NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team scored a season-high 21 points and piled up 432 yards of total offense Saturday, but a fourth-quarter comeback bid fell short in a 28-21 loss to Carleton at Laird Stadium.
The Saints rushed for 311 yards, led by Elijah Adzimahe's (Oakdale, MN/North St. Paul HS) 100 yards on 12 carries, and received two rushing touchdowns from Stephan Jackson (Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis North HS). CSS outgained the Knights 432-342 and controlled possession for 36:51, keeping the game within reach into the closing minutes.
Carleton built a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter before St. Scholastica answered with two touchdowns in 14 seconds. Adzimahe sparked an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 45-yard run, later connecting with Jevon Williams (Willmar, MN/Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (ACGC)) for 20 yards and converting a fourth-and-four with a seven-yard carry. Jackson finished the possession with a one-yard touchdown run with 8:15 remaining in the half.
On Carleton's next offensive play, Gabe Kattchee (La Crosse WI./Logan HS) recovered a fumble and returned it four yards for a touchdown. Jack Schroeder's (Fall Creek, WI/Regis High School) second extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 8:01 left in the second quarter.
The Knights regained the lead on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Logan Lachermeier to Tyler Dimond and carried a 21-14 advantage into halftime. Carleton added a four-yard touchdown run by Evan Olds in the third quarter to extend the margin to 28-14.
St. Scholastica responded with a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that stretched into the fourth quarter. Adzimahe found Brayden Dent (Green Isle, MN/Central HS) for six yards on fourth-and-three to keep the possession alive, and Jackson capped the march with a five-yard touchdown run. Schroeder's extra point brought the Saints within seven with 9:02 remaining.
The CSS defense forced a punt on Carleton's ensuing possession, giving the Saints the ball at their own 10-yard line with 4:05 to play. A 56-yard completion from Adzimahe to Jeremiah Jackson (Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis North High School) moved St. Scholastica to the Carleton 36, but an interception ended the threat with 2:08 remaining. The Knights picked up a first down and ran out the clock.
Adzimahe added 118 passing yards to his 100-yard rushing performance. Blake Fox (Somerset, WI/Somerset High School) gained 83 yards on seven carries, including a 51-yard run, while Williams contributed 50 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards. Jeremiah Jackson (Minneapolis, MN/Minneapolis North High School) led the Saints' receivers with two catches for 76 yards.
Defensively, Isaac Johnson (St. Paul, MN/St. Paul Highland Park HS) recorded a team-high eight tackles, including one for a loss. Ben Blomberg (New Ulm, MN/New Ulm Cathedral HS) and William Richardson (Mahtowa, MN/Barnum HS) each registered a sack as the Saints limited Carleton to 49 rushing yards and two conversions on nine third-down attempts.
St. Scholastica (0-5, 0-4 MIAC) returns home to host Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m.
