<n Cook ‘15 recorded double-digit tackles, including three for a loss, and Mason Schnarr ‘17 picked up his first collegiate interception, but the Carleton College football team got no help from the schedule makers as the Knights faced their second straight national top-10 opponent, falling this time 65-6 at No. 6 University of St. Thomas.
One week after facing national No. 5 Bethel University, the Carleton defense (2-2, 1-2 MIAC) faced another stiff challenge. The Knights did succeed in not permitting a 100-yard rushing or receiving performance, but the consistency of the Tommie offense proved to be too much to handle on this day and the Knights saw their record slip to .500 for the season.
St. Thomas (3-1, 1-1 MIAC) faced third-and-eight on its first drive of the game when Schnarr picked off a John Gould pass and returned it 24 yards to the Tommies’ 30-yardline. The Knights were deep in St. Thomas territory, but an interception four plays later halted the drive.
The Tommies capitalized on this miscue, scoring on each of their next six possessions leading into intermission. The teams headed to their respective locker rooms with the score 37-0 in favor of the home team.
The story proved to be more of the same in the second half. After the Carleton defense forced St. Thomas to turn the ball over on downs on the opening possession of the second half, the Tommies scored four consecutive touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
With just over five minutes remaining in the final period, John Baker ‘14 notched his first touchdown of the season on a one-yard plunge.
The Knights will look to bounce back next weekend when they travel back to St. Paul to face Macalester College in the annual battle for the “Book of Knowledge” trophy. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. Live audio of the game will be available on Knights Online with Gordy Kosfeld calling the action on KQCL 95.9 FM in the Northfield/Faribault area.