Northfield, Minn. – Matt Frank (So./Caledonia, Minn.) tallied 11 catches for 139 yards, but host Carleton College had four turnovers and drove to the Hamline University 2-yard line on three occasions without scoring as the Pipers upset the Knights, 16-11.
James Leary paced Hamline (3-3, 1-3 MIAC) by throwing for 175 yards on 19-of-25 passing, including a 12-yard TD pass to Andrew Seymour with 3:32 left in the third that proved to be the game winner. Hamline won despite going 0-for-11 on third-down conversions.
The game was a bizarre affair, as it was tied at 2-2 for much of the first half. Hamline fumbled in their own end zone with two minutes left in the first quarter, but Robert Thompson sacked Darren Caspers (Sr./Bemidji, Minn.) in the end zone early in the second quarter. Carleton grabbed a 9-2 lead when Caspers hit Frank on a 10-yard fade, capping a 13-play, 88-yard drive with 5:10 left in the half, but Hamline drove 79 yards in a little more than a minute before the half, capped by a Ben Dahmes 1-yard burst, to leave the score 9-9 at the break.
Carleton had an excellent chance to score on the second half’s first possession, as Caspers hit Frank for 16 and 20 yards, putting the Knights at the Hamline 2-yard line, but Caspers fumbled the ball trying to get into the end zone and Jordan Below recovered for Hamline. The Piper defense forced another Carleton turnover on the Knights’ next possession, as Adam Hespen intercepted Caspers and returned it to midfield. Six plays later Leary lofted a pass into the left corner of the end zone and Hamline led, 16-11.
The Knights had two chances from point-blank range in the final six minutes. They took over at Hamline’s 39-yard line after a 15-yard Piper punt and quickly moved the ball to the 2-yard line. An incomplete pass, fumble on a failed option pitch and another incomplete pass left the Knights with fourth down from the Hamline 12. Greg Siers sacked Caspers, giving the ball back to Hamline.
The Knights defense, though, forced a punt and Hamline snapped the ball over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety. Chris Gardner (So./Gaylord, Minn./Sibley Co. Easy) returned the free kick 26 yards and into Hamline territory. Caspers hit Mike Wiebolt (Jr./Breezy Point, Minn./Pequot Lakes) for seven yards, Frank for 15 and Jackson ran for nine yards. Caspers rammed ahead for three yards and a first down, but Below sacked Caspers on the next play back to the Hamline 19-yard line with 42 seconds left. Caspers hit Jackson for seven yards and Steve Ramey (So./Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) for 10 yards, giving the Knights first-and-goal from the Hamline 2-yard line. After Caspers spiked the ball to stop the clock, he threw twice on fade patterns to Frank before Jackson tried to get the ball to Frank on a halfback option. Frank was open, but it appeared Jackson had trouble getting the ball into throwing position, which allowed the Hamline defensive backs to close on Frank and Jackson’s pass floated over Frank’s head and out of the end zone.
Caspers finished 25-of-51 for 255 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions and was under heavy pressure from Hamline all day, as he was sacked six times and hurried twice that amount. Jackson rushed for 75 yards and had 30 yards receiving. James Colbenson (Jr./Rushford, Minn./Rushford-Peterson) led the Knights’ defense with eight tackles and Mike Morrissey (Jr./Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) added seven stops. Drew Ziller (So./Byron, Minn./Rochester Lourdes) added six tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery and an interception.
The Knights hit the road next week to face Augsburg College and the Pipers are at St. John’s University. Both games start at 1 p.m.
