NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Gustavus football suffered a convincing 51-17 loss at Carleton on Saturday, dropping to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the MIAC. The Gusties trailed by just seven points at halftime, but the Knights outscored the visitors 34-7 in the second half, snapping a 26-game losing streak against Gustavus dating back to 1996.Â
Starting the game with the ball, the Gusties drove down to the Knight 22-yard line in 14 plays and settled for a 40-yard field goal by
Jack Sieben for an early 3-0 lead. Carleton answered early in the second quarter with a 43-yard field goal to tie the game.Â
Gustavus regained the lead after just two plays.
River Wood had a 44-yard run, setting up a 31-yard touchdown pass from
George Sandven to
Caden Kleinschmidt for a 10-3 lead. The Knights responded on the ensuing drive after four plays, tying the score at 10-10, and then took a 17-10 lead right before half, ending a 10-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass. Carleton carried a 17-10 lead into the locker room.Â
The third quarter was all Carleton as it scored on three consecutive drives for a 38-10 lead entering the fourth. The Knights went up 45-10 on its first drive of the fourth before the Gusties got back on the board with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to
Cale Morton. The Knights put a stamp on the victory with 25-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth, as Carleton quarterback Jack Curtis finished with 469 passing yards and seven touchdowns.Â
Sandven completed 23-of-42 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Kleinschmidt was the top target with six catches for 111 yards and a score.
River Wood led the ground game with 17 carries for 81 yards. He also added six catches for 26 yards.
Carson DeKam led the defense with nine tackles.
Max Olson tallied a pair of sacks and five tackles.Â
The Knights out-gained the Gusties 564-338 in total yards. The Gusties had trouble moving the chains, converting just 3-of-17 on third down.Â
Gustavus wraps up the season next Saturday at home against Concordia during MIAC Championship Week.
Â
