WAWWATOSA – St. Norbert College edged out Wisconsin Lutheran College 17-14, never trailing in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at Raabe Stadium.
The Green Knights (2-3, 2-1 NACC) battled the Warriors under the lights in a closely contested battle, scoring 10 points before halftime and adding a touchdown in the third quarter to take a two-score advantage.
St. Norbert broke the deadlock in the first quarter, leaning heavily on Jacob McVane (pictured) during the drive, who caught a 42-yard pass from Michael Meneguzzo to set up a St. Norbert score on the next play, rushing in for a two-yard score with 6:50 left in the first quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran tied the game in the second quarter thanks to a 13-play drive that culminated with a Liam Heiges three-yard touchdown run.
Holding off Wisconsin Lutheran the rest of the half, the Green Knights took a three-point lead going into halftime with a 35-yard field goal from Tyler Juergensen with 2:08 left in the first half.
The Greeen Knight defense came up big out of the break, with John Seitz intercepting his first of the season to set up the Green Knights on the Wisconsin Lutheran side of the field. McVane scored another short touchdown run in the third quarter, getting his second on a one-yard rush to make it 17-7 with 9:33 left in the third quarter.
The defense continued to make big plays, with Nate Lee recording two back-to-back sacks on a lengthy fourth quarter drive to force a turnover on downs.
Wisconsin Lutheran did make it a tad closer with just over a minute remaining in the game to make it 17-14, but thanks to a late 15-yard burst for McVane it was all academic from that point forward.
St. Norbert was outgained 294-256 in total offense. Meneguzzo completed nine of 15 passes for 104 yards. McVane rushed 20 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He also led in receiving yards with his one catch for 42 yards being one of the longest plays of the game. Bailey Turenne caught a team-high four catches for 27 yards.
Quincy Rheams passed for 124 yards for Wisconsin Lutheran, completing 16 of 22 passes for one touchdown and one interception. He also led the Warriors in rushing, totaling 60 yards on 16 carries. Jamil Gordon led the Warriors in receiving yards, catching four passes for 45 yards.
Nate Lee led the Green Knight defense with three sacks, four tackles for loss and six total tackles. John Seitz had eight tackles, while Nick Junge and Killian McGinnis each had one sack.
