<l road contest of the season, the Carleton College football team racked up over 350 yards of total offense, but the Gustavus Adolphus College rushing attack proved to be too much to handle. The Knights (4-5, 2-5 MIAC) fell behind early and were unable to complete their comeback bid, dropping the game by a final score of 34-19.
Seniors Chase Gottschalk and Conor Lynch paced the Carleton offense. Gottschalk reeled in five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown and Lynch completed 20-of-39 passes for 242 yards and a score.
After two Gustavus touchdowns in the first quarter, the Knights responded early in the second period, executing a six-play, 64-yard drive. John Baker ‘14 plunged into the end zone from a yard out to narrow the margin to one score.
The Gusties (6-3, 4-3 MIAC) countered with a touchdown on their next possession, but the Knights struck back later in the quarter. They marched 96 yards in just under eight minutes to pull within a score. On the drive, Lynch completed 6-of-8 passes for 66 yards and capped it off with a seven-yard scramble for a touchdown.
Gustavus managed to add a field goal before intermission, and the teams entered their respective locker rooms with the score 24-13 in favor of the home team.
After a scoreless third period, the Gusties added another touchdown early in the fourth to increase their lead. A 26-yard strike from Lynch to Gottschalk brought the Knights back in striking distance, but Gustavus chipped in a field goal with just over eight minutes left to put the game out of reach.
Defensively, Carleton was paced by Mitch Heflin ‘16, who recorded double-digit tackles for the third consecutive week. He notched 13 total tackles, three of which were for a loss. Heflin’s performance did not go unnoticed; he was named the MIAC Football Defensive Player-of-the-Week.
The Knights will look to rebound next Saturday, Nov. 16, when they return to Laird Stadium for the season finale against Augsburg College. It will be Senior Day in Northfield, and Carleton will honor the fourteen seniors on its roster.