Box Score Monmouth scored the last two touchdowns in a 49-35 win over Knox College in the 124th meeting of the two schools.
Both teams scored on their first two possession and a missed extra point by the Scots loomed large in the second half. The Prairie Fire’s Derek Mortensen scored two TDs in the first quarter, but Monmouth answered when Brik Wedekind ran for a pair of scores in the first half and hit Garrett Youngren with three straight TD tosses, all in the second quarter. The Scots racked up 27 second quarter points to take a 34-21 halftime lead.
Knox countered after intermission, scoring on their first two possessions of the half to regain a 35-34 lead when they connected for a 51-yard scoring pass.
Monmouth answered once again when Michael Buehne ran in from 22 yards out at the start of the fourth quarter to give Monmouth a 40-35 lead. The Scots then went for the two point conversion as Wedekind hit Stefan Flynn to give the Scots a 42-35 lead. The Scots ended the scoring with James Lauber’s 11 yard TD run, but the game stayed in doubt in the final minutes.
With Knox on the move in the final six minutes, Ryan Flannigan picked off a Fire pass near midfield. Six plays later, Knox returned the favor, intercepting Wedekind at the Knox six with 3:46 left. Joel Burger then sacked the Fire QB, putting Knox at their own 17. After a two yard gain, Flannigan intercepted his second pass of the day, returning it to the Knox 31. The Scots then ran out the clock for their 13th straight win in the Bronze Turkey battle.
Wedekind finished 16 of 25 for three TDs and 157 yards while Lauber gained 159 yards and Buehne added 135 as each scored twice.