GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's football team showed it meant business from the start, but a potent Knox College offensive attack was just too much as the Prairie Fire posted a 49-28 win Saturday afternoon at Rosenbloom Field.
The teams were tied 14-all at halftime, but a 21-7 scoring edge by Knox (2-3, 2-3 Midwest Conference) was the difference.
The Pioneers, who had a season-high 229 yards of passing, had three more first downs than the Prairie Fire and won the time of possession by nearly three minutes.
Grayson Woodhouse '24 matched his career-high with 202 yards through the air and two touchdowns.
Dustin Saia '22 and
Nick Rhinehart '25 had seven and six catches for 109 and 103 yards, respectively.
Defensively for Grinnell (2-4, 2-3 MWC),
Blady Cavazos '25 had 13 tackles and a sack,
Adam Khater '23 added 10 tackles and
Hugh Werner '25 came up with nine stops.
Tom Henehan '22 also had a sack.
Knox scored on the first play from scrimmage, but Grinnell got things going on its second series with a 12-play, 55-yard drive that was capped by
Danny Carter's '22 1-yard touchdown run. Rhinehart had the point after, making it 7-all with 7 ticks left in the first period.
The teams traded touchdowns early in the second period, too, with Grinnell's coming on a 25-yard pass from Woodhouse to Saia at the 6:02 mark. Rhinehart's kick made it 14-all.
Knox scored two straight touchdowns in the third period to get the lead for good. Grinnell responded with a 33-yard TD pass from Woodhouse to Rhinehart at the 3:08 mark, but Knox answered to lead 35-21 entering the final frame.
The Prairie Fire struck for two quick scores in the fourth period before Grinnell finished off the scoring with 3:34 left as
Hayden Moses '25 hit Saia with an 8-yard scoring strike.
Carter moved up to 12
th in Grinnell history for rushing yards with 1,221, 13
th in attempts with 348 and 14
th for touchdowns with 11. Saia now has 10 career receiving touchdowns, which ranks 15
th.
Grinnell hits the road next week to face Lake Forest College.
