GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College football team burst out to a fast start before losing a 27-21 nail-biter Saturday afternoon to Trinity Bible College at Rosenbloom Field.
 
Despite the outcome, Grinnell outgained the Lions 382-322 and led the first downs battle 19-17.
 
Jacob Bernholtz '17, who rushed for 115 yards in the game, opened the scoring with a 64-yard TD burst with 7:15 left in the first period.  The drive also included a 10-yard pass from Tony Bergida '18 to David Taylor '20. Ibuki Ogasawara '17 added the point after for a 7-0 lead.
 
Trinity Bible scored once in the first period and again in the second for a 13-7 lead. But Grinnell took the halftime lead when Bernholtz ran 2 yards for a score with 24 seconds left during a series sparked by a 40-yard pass from Bergida to Carson Dunn '18. Ogasawara was true with the extra point for a 14-13 halftime edge.
 
The visitors took a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter before Grinnell equaled things with 54 seconds left on Chip Scott's '19 17-yard TD run and Ogasawara's kick. The series featured a 20-yard pass from Bergida to Dunn and 15-yard scamper by Bernholtz.
 
However, the Lions scored with 9:44 left in the final period to secure the win.
 
Besides Bernholtz's big rushing day, Scott added 99 yards and Bergida completed 9-of-26 passes for 163 yards. Dunn had four catches for 81 yards.
 
Defensively, Ryan Slager '19 had 19 total tackles and Jeff Keele '19 added 15. Vinny Pavoni '19, DJ Coleman '19 and Hassan Thompson '19 all had nine stops, while Thompson was also credited with a sack.
 
Grinnell opens Midwest Conference play next Saturday when Beloit College visits Rosenbloom Field for a 1 p.m. test.