Blueboys Can’t Slow Down St. Norbert in 56-20 Defeat

Box Score
DE PERE, Wis. – St. Norbert College scored three first quarter touchdowns to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish on Saturday in a 56-20 win over Illinois College. The Green Knights stayed tied for the Midwest Conference lead at 6-2 (6-0 MWC), while the Blueboys slipped to 5-4 (4-3 MWC) on the year.

Illinois College never had much of a chance to work its way into the contest. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Blueboys were intercepted on their second play from scrimmage. The Blueboys regained possession on a fumble recovered by Steve Reyna, but after a three-and-out, the Green Knights took over for their second possession with less than two minutes elapsed in the game. 

In nine plays, St. Norbert methodically moved down the field. The drive culminated in a 32-yard Elijah Fort touchdown run to make it 7-0. Later in the quarter, an IC punt was blocked, but the defense stepped up again with a forced fumble recovered by T.J. Lawal. Unfortunately for IC, the Green Knights picked off their second pass of the game two plays later to set them up with possession at the Illinois College 18-yard line. St. Norbert scored in four plays to make it 14-0 midway through the opening quarter.

Special teams continued to cause problems for Illinois College as Nick Montrey had another punt blocked later in the first quarter. This time St. Norbert got possession inside the IC red zone and scored in two plays to make it 21-0. On the first play of the second quarter, a 25-yard J.T. Crosby run made it 28-0.

Despite their difficulties with the punting unit, the Blueboys would get on the board in the second quarter after a Montrey punt. A fumble by St. Norbert rolled all the way into the end zone where Cole Peters recovered it to put Illinois College on the board, making it 28-7. On the ensuing possession, Vincent Vanhorne intercepted Crosby, leading to a 27-yard field goal from Zack DeWitt to make it 28-10. The Green Knights found the end zone twice more before the break, however, giving them a 42-10 lead at halftime.

The Blueboys notched the only score of the third quarter on a 17-play drive. Late in the quarter, IC took over on its own 8-yard line and went 89 yards deep into St. Norbert territory before DeWitt booted his second field goal of the game to make it 42-13.

After St. Norbert tallied a defensive touchdown early in the fourth quarter, Illinois College responded with a 61-yard burst from Greg Cross to make the score 49-20. With time ticking down in the contest, St. Norbert's Brad Boockmeier muscled across the goal line from one yard out for the final touchdown of the game.

Deavon Puck ended 24-of-52 for 209 yards and two interceptions in the game for Illinois College. Cross was the leading rusher with 84 yards on five carries. Through the air, Austin Ellsworth had three catches for 66 yards, while Andy Webb had five for 45 yards. Ryan Torrance was the leading tackler for the Blueboys with nine solo takedowns.

Illinois College has a bye week on Nov. 5, followed by Senior Day at England Stadium on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. against Beloit College.