GRINNELL, Iowa — Beloit College's offense moved the ball but couldn't overcome three interceptions and a pair of lost fumbles this afternoon, falling 28-7 to Grinnell at Rosenbloom Field. The loss drops Beloit to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while Grinnell improves to 2-2 (1-1 MWC).
Despite being outgained only marginally (266 total yards to Grinnell's 234) and actually winning the first-down battle 17-10, Beloit's inability to finish drives proved fatal. The Pioneers converted just 0-of-10 on third down and turned the ball over five times, three of which Grinnell either scored directly off or used to flip field position.
Beloit's only touchdown came in the second quarter, capping a workmanlike 7-play, 69-yard drive that ate up 3:52 off the clock. Quarterback Noah Carrasco (Cypress, TX) found tight end Dominic Guzman (Aurora, IL) for a 4-yard touchdown pass, andIan Ladd (Madison, WI)'s extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 9:56 left in the half. The drive featured a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Grinnell and a 18-yard completion to Guzman that set up the score.
Unfortunately for Beloit, the tie was short-lived. Just under three minutes later, Grinnell's Ajay Griffin picked off Carrasco and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown, swinging momentum for good.
Despite the loss, multiple Buccaneers showed impressive grit. Carrasco threw for 198 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-32 passing, but was intercepted three times and sacked six times. He was also Beloit's leading "rusher" on paper with 15 carries, though scrambles and sacks left him at -8 net yards. Guzman hauled in Beloit's only touchdown and finished with 4 catches for 30 yards. Julian Hernandez (Miami, FL) led all Beloit receivers with 4 catches for 47 yards, including a long of 17. Elijah Grimsley (Palm Bay, FL) was Beloit's most productive ball-carrier, picking up 23 net yards on just 4 attempts (5.8 avg.) and adding 3 catches for 50 yards through the air. Deandre Fields (Fort Worth, TX) chipped in 26 rushing yards on only 3 carries and added 3 receptions for 17 yards. Jaiden Ospina (Stuart, FL) paced the Beloit defense with 9 total tackles. Jimmy Guillaume (West Palm Beach, FL) added 5 tackles and a sack.
Grinnell leaned on a balanced ground game led by quarterback Will Weber (10 carries, 77 yards, 1 rushing TD, plus a receiving TD via a trick-play pass) and running back Andre Lopez (15 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD), racking up 225 rushing yards on 45 attempts compared to Beloit's 68 yards on 29 carries. Grinnell's defense also turned three Carrasco interceptions into 21 points off turnovers, the difference in an otherwise competitive statistical battle.
The Buccaneers are back at Historic Strong Stadium on Saturday, October 3rd when they host the Maroons of the University of Chicago. Kick off is set for 12 pm.
