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| Division III suddenly didn't seem quite so purple on Saturday. More photos from this game. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
They went blue at Luther for the home opener, while Hobart, Hope, Stevenson and other playoff hopefuls avoided getting the blues and picking up a second loss to open the season.
The sparkling new turf at Luther College got a christening in front of fans, alumni and three former coaches, after whom the field was named Legacy Field and the Norse defeated rival St. Olaf 44-20. True to form in the Norse's triple option offense, five players ran for 30 or more yards, including Nick Slavens, who ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run in the win.
Hobart bounced back in a major way from its Week 1 loss to Brockport as the Statesmen defeated St. John Fisher, 31-3. Hobart evened its record at 1-1 while the Cardinals fell to 0-2. Senior quarterback Shane Sweeney completed 22 of 31 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns, but it was the Statesmen defense that turned heads. After giving up 603 yards and 34 points last week, Hobart was tested early and often, but didn't falter, holding the Cardinals to 280 yards and a second-quarter field goal.
Hope got into the win column for the first time this season, as the Dutchmen flew past Defiance by a 38-0 score. After a Week 1 loss to Monmouth, Hope took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards to set the tone on the first of Brandan Campbell's three touchdown runs on the day. Defiance was held to 127 yards of total offense, while Mason Opple was 15-for-22 passing for 192 yards and two scores in the win for Hope (1-1).
Campbell wore No. 22 for the game, the number usually worn by fellow running back Mike Miklusicak. Miklusicak was injured during preseason practice and is out for the season. "It was tough seeing him go down in camp just because last year we were the first duo to put up 1,000 yards together," Campbell said. "We're like co-pilots, we feed off each other. It's tough, but at the same time I just wanted to wear this jersey so it's like he's out there with me and we're just doing it again."
Dan Williams was 23-for-41 passing for 247 yards and four touchdowns as Stevenson downed King's 38-9, bouncing back from a blowout loss at Frostburg State in Week 1. Williams threw his TDs to three different receivers, including two to Presto Addo.
Washington & Lee racked up 554 rushing yards as the Generals bounced back from a Week 1 loss to Johns Hopkins and defeated Sewanee 63-30. Walker Brand rushed for 111 yards and four touchdowns in the win, while Josh Breece added 112 yards and three TDs.
Endicott freshman wide receiver Sheilan Velazquez caught a 31-yard pass at the goal line as time expired and the extra point gave the Gulls a 29-28 win vs. Bridgewater State, as Endicott improved to 1-1. The catch capped a 92-yard drive that started with 1:51 left. Benedictine bounced back from its Week 1 loss to Wheaton and had an easy time of it, defeating St. Norbert 29-7.
At midweek, Kohle Helle was a starting wide receiver for Central, but today he accounted for 349 yards of total offense to spark Central to its first win of the season, 33-22 over Augustana, after a Week 1 blowout against Whitworth. Helle, used typically on designed runs, was thrust into full-time duty when opening-game starter Nate Boland was unable to return from injury. Helle was predictably elusive on his feet, rushing for a game-high 102 yards on 17 carries, but was a remarkably efficient passer as well, completing 17 of 23 passes for 247 yards and two TDs with no interceptions.
Macalester got off to a 2-0 start, defeating Hamline 23-14. It's the first time Mac has beaten both Hamline and Carleton in the same season since 1985, and the first time the Scots have ever held both the Paint Bucket and the Book of Knowledge, the spoils of its two trophy games.
Christian Zaytoun connected with Dane Birkeland for a 30-yard touchdown as time expired, but Carleton could not convert the ensuing two-point attempt and the Knights fell 48-46 at Lake Forest. Carleton had trailed 48-34 with 3:51 remaining but scored with 1:17 left, then got a defensive stop and went 78 yards in just 27.3 seconds before coming up short. Joey Valdivia had 224 yards and three rushing TDs to lead the Foresters.
Salve Regina got a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and held on to defeat Montclair State, 26-20. The Seahawks held Montclair to just 3 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter as Montclair spent just one play in Salve Regina territory after falling behind. Danny McDermott completed just 13 of 31 passes but threw three touchdowns.
Grinnell ended its 11-game losing streak, as Carson Dunn ran for two touchdowns, both in the second half, to lead the Pioneers past Trinity Bible by a 15-6 score. Dunn picked up 171 yards on 29 carries. Tanner Kuhne connected on a 26-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to send Eureka into overtime, but Northwestern picked off Eureka in the extra session and freshman Nate VanBeusekom scored on a 2-yard run to lift the Eagles to a 19-13 overtime win. It was just his second carry of the game.