ROCKFORD, Ill. – The restart has begun.
After being idle more than 700 days, the much-anticipated Grinnell College football program's 2021 season opened up Saturday. Though the result – a 48-13 loss at Rockford University - didn't play out as desired, seeing competition for the first time since September 2019 was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Pioneers.
Grayson Woodhouse '24 got his collegiate signal-calling career off to a great start, throwing for 127 yards while completing 10-of-20 aerials with one score. His yardage total is the most for a Pioneer quarterback since Jake Kaplinski threw for 230 against Beloit College on Nov. 10, 2018.
Dustin Saia '22 and
Nick Rhinehart '25 formed a solid one-two punch in the pass receiving department, each catching four passes for 77 and 74 yards, respectively.
Danny Carter '22 rushed for 86 yards and
Daniel Quirk '25 had 85.
Defensively,
Hugh Werner '25 led the tackles department with 12.
Blady Cavazos '25 added eight,
Luke Stefan '25 registered seven and
Adam Khater '23 put up six. Cavazos and Khater each shared a sack.
The Pioneers drove into Rockford territory on the opening drive, but gave the ball up via an interception. The Regents took advantage as they ran up a 14-0 lead by the end of the first period.
Grinnell reached Rockford territory twice in the second period, but gave the ball up on downs. The Regents responded and took a 21-0 lead into halftime.
Rockford built a 34-0 lead by the end of the third period and went up 41-0 early in the fourth before the Pioneers put things together in the final period.
Grinnell scored its first touchdown since the Nov. 10, 2018, game when Woodhouse connected with Saia on a 50-yard scoring pass with 11:15 to go in the game. Rhinehart booted the extra point to make it 41-7. Key plays on the drive, that went for 75 yards on six plays, were 11-yard runs by Carter and
Max Ehrlich '23.
The Regents countered with a touchdown before Grinnell caught fire again, putting together a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by Carter's 17-yard touchdown run with 3:03 left. Quirk also had two nine-yard runs on the drive, which was followed by Rhinehart's extra point kick.
The Pioneers open Midwest Conference action next Saturday at Monmouth College. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
