Box Score
Northfield, Minn. – Sophomore R.J. Jackson (So./Roseville, Minn./De La Salle) rushed for two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 4:36 left, as Carleton College rallied past Hamline University, 20-19, in the season finale for both clubs.
Jackson carried 14 times for 59 yards, scoring on a 17-yard burst midway through the second quarter and the game-winning 1-yard score with 4:36 remaining on a fourth-and-goal play. It allowed the Knights (4-6, 2-6 MIAC) to finish with their highest win total since the 1996 club finished 6-4.
James Leary led the Pipers (3-7, 1-7 MIAC) with 192 yards passing on 18-of-32 with two interceptions and one touchdown. His passing pushed the Pipers to a 19-13 lead in the third quarter, as the rookie was 7-for13 for 102 yards in the third quarter as the visitors held the ball for 11 minutes in the period.
Ben Dahmes rushed 25 times for 73 yards and two scores for Hamline, including a go-ahead 16-yard scamper with 7:54 left in third to give Hamline a 19-13 lead.
Hamline out-gained Carleton, 291-231, and held a time-of-possession edge of 32:13-27:47. It marked Carleton’s third straight win over Hamline, the first time the Knights have beaten the Pipers three consecutive times since 1929-31.
Trailing 19-13, the Knights took over at their own 42-yard line. Starting quarterback Darren Caspers (Jr./Bemidji, Minn.), who had left the game in the first half with an injury, returned and promptly hit Chris Gardner (Fy./Gaylord, Minn./Sibley Co. East) for 14 yards and Matt Frank (Fy./Caledonia, Minn.) for 13. Another 11-yard completion to Wade Thompson (Jr./Peterson, Minn./Rushford-Peterson) put Carleton at the Piper 5-yard line. Jackson rushed for two yards, no game, and another two yards before following the left side of the Carleton offensive line into the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Randy Foss (Jr./Hastings, Minn.) would intercept Leary on a second-and-one play with 3:50 left. Carleton had to punt the ball away, but pinned the Pipers at their own 12-yard line. The Knights stopped the Pipers on downs to hold on for the victory.
Hamline opened the scoring as Dahmes pounded it in from 8 yards midway through the first quarter. The Knights answered as Jackson burst in from 17 yards to tie the game at 7-7 with 9:06 left in the half.
It looked like the game would be tied at the half before Foss rocked Dahmes at the Hamline 5-yard line, forcing a fumble that teammate Nick Brokke (Sr./Richfield, Minn.) recovered. Two plays later John Hollowed (So./Mercer Island, Wash), subbing for the injured Caspers, hit Mike Kootsikas (Jr./Rosemount, Minn.) for an 8-yard touchdown. A poor snap on the extra point left Carleton in the lead, 13-7, at the half.
Hamline opened the third with a bang, scoring on their first two possessions. Leary hit Brent Nelson with a perfect strike down the right side for a 33-yard touchdown, but a poor snap thwarted the extra point try and left it tied at 13-13. The Pipers took the lead on their next possession, as Dahmes raced in from 16 yards. Leary tallied 42 of the 56 yards on the drive through the air and on the ground.
Tyler Schultz led the Pipers’ defense with 10 tackles, nine solo, and his eighth interception of the season. Robert Thompson added 10 stops, nine solo, as well.
Jerad Phelps (So./Northfield, Minn.) collected a career-high 13 tackles and Pat Frett (Jr./Wilmette, Ill./Ann Arbor-Huron, Mich.) added 10 stops, two for losses, with one sack. Foss had eight tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
