Box Score GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's football team stormed back into the win column with a 13-7 victory at Beloit College in Midwest Conference action Saturday afternoon.
The win snapped a six-game Pioneer losing streak that dated back to October 2011. Grinnell is now 1-2 in the league and 1-3 overall, while Beloit fell to 0-3 in MWC play and 0-4 in all games.
Grinnell's offense found the scoreboard thanks to a pair of field goals and a long pass play, while the defense forced five turnovers a week after the Pioneers gave up the ball seven times.
Graham Fisher '16 opened the scoring for Grinnell when he booted a 50-yard field goal at the 12:41 mark of the first period. That is just 5 yards shy of the school record.
Beloit responded later in the period with a 5-yard TD run by Zach Draus and extra point that made it 7-3.
In the second period, Grinnell gained a yard on two plays before
Sam Poulos '16 connected with
Jayson Campos '14 on a 67-yard touchdown play.
Daniel Munger's '15 extra point made it 10-7 with 6:36 left in the half.
The score remained that way until halftime when Grinnell concluded the scoring as Munger booted a 34-yard field goal to cap a nine-play drive with 9:54 to go in the third period. A 22-yard pass from Poulos to
Max Jacobson '14 helped spark the series.
Beloit drove to Grinnell's 16-yard line on the ensuing drive before coughing up the ball, which was recovered by the Pioneers'
David Ternes '15.
The hosts got down to Grinnell's 19-yard line in the fourth period before fumbling again, this time with
Kevin Hwang '14 recovering.
The Pioneers had a chance to put the game away on their next drive but had a field goal blocked. Beloit marched down to Grinnell's 30-yard line but was turned away on downs when
Ki Harris '14 stopped Will Coyne for a yard gain on a fourth-and-2 play.
Grinnell ran out the clock from there to earn the win.
Poulos completed 14-of-24 passes for 164 yards, while Campos had three catches for 92 yards and
Cody Weber '13 five catches for 24 yards.
TJ Schaid '13 rushed for 82 yards on 24 carries.
Defensively,
Drew Blumberg '13 led all players with 10 tackles as well as an interception.
Colton Feller '14 had eight stops, while
Clayton Desjardin '15 and Hwang had six stops each.
Grinnell has a bye week next week before hosting Monmouth College at 1 p.m. Oct. 6 at Rosenbloom Field.