EUREKA, Ill. – St. Norbert College got on the winning track with a 31-0 win over Eureka College in both teams' Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener.
The Green Knights took the opening kickoff and needed just eight plays to march 75 yards, scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass from
Fernando Rodriguez to
Jacob McVane (pictured) with 9:50 left in the first quarter and a 7-0 lead. Rodriguez then found McVane again two possessions later with a 13-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead with 16 seconds left in the quarter.
St. Norbert added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter – an 8-yard run by
Nadir Simmons and a 2-yard pass from Rodriguez to
Bennett Schmidt – for a 28-0 halftime lead.
Tyler Juergensen's 25-yard field goal with 1:08 remaining closed out the scoring.
St. Norbert outgained Eureka 292-117 and had 20 first downs to the Red Devils' five. Simmons led the Green Knights on the ground with 60 yards on 11 attempts and one touchdown. Rodriguez completed eight of 17 passes for 99 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions while adding 53 rushing yards on 13 carries. McVane caught four passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Eureka was held to 27 rushing yards on 26 carries and had 90 passing yards.
Mason Trimberger continued a solid start to his freshmen campaign with a team-high 11 tackles, 1 1/2 tackles-for-loss, one fumble recovery and one interception.
John Seitz had six tackles with one tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble.
Seth Evans and
Tommy McCauley had four tackles apiece.
