Beloit, Wis. – R.J. Jackson (So./Roseville, Minn./De La Salle) rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, tallying 278 all-purpose yards, as Carleton College defeated host Beloit College (Wis.), 35-28, in the season opener for both squads.
Jackson tallied scoring runs of 19 yards and four yards.
The game marked Carleton’s first win in a season opener since 1999. Carleton and Beloit are former Midwest Conference foes.
After a short Beloit touchdown run late the in the third tied the game at 28-28, Jackson’s 47-yards kickoff return to the Bucs’ 48-yard line gave Carleton good field position. Quarterback Darren Caspers (Jr./Bemidji, Minn.) picked up a first down in a six-yard gain on third down and then capped the drive himself with a six yard bootleg to give Carleton a 35-28 lead with 12:42 in the fourth.
Beloit answered right back, marching inside the Knights’ 10-yard line in 11 plays. However, Carleton’s defense, which struggled against the Buccaneers Wing-T offense all day, came up with a fantastic goal line stand. Key tackles by Randy Foss (Jr./Hastings, Minn.), Matt Bond (Sr./Stillwater, Minn.) and Pat Frett (Jr./Ann Arbor, Mich.) saved the game for the Knights. Carleton played the clock, and the defense easily held back the Buccaneers in their final attempt of the game.
Jackson’s first score of the day, a 19-yard scamper that came after the Knights forced a fumble, pulled Carleton with 8-7. After Beloit scored early in the second, Jackson’s 50-yard burst set up a Wade Thompson (Jr./Rushford, Minn/Rushford-Peterson) three-yard run, tying the game at 14-14.
After two scoreless possessions, Skelton connected with Alex Olson for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Beloit completed the two point conversion, bringing the Buccaneers up 22-14 with 2:38 left in the second quarter.
After Jackson ripped off a 44-yard kickoff return to Beloit’s 48-yard line, Carleton scored in eight playes as senior Kevin Hanley (Chicago/Holy Cross) bowled in from two yards, making the score 22-21 in favor of Beloit at the half.
Carleton scored to start the second half as Jackson ran inside Hanley’s block to give Carleton its first lead of the game, 28-22, early in the third quarter.
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A Carleton fumble recovered by David Bilek gave the Buccaneer offense a chance to rally. Skelton notched a 34-yard pickup to the Carleton five and Olson ran in from there, but a failed two point conversion left the game tied at 28-28 with 1:54 left in the third quarter.
Both teams had their way on the ground, as Carleton rolled up 284 yards rushing to 277 for the Bucs. Beloit tallied 141 yards through the air, 68 on the scoring toss to Olson, while Carleton managed only 72 passing yards on a 5-for-11 day for Caspers. Carleton committed a pair of turnovers compared to one for Beloit. The Knights dominated time of possession, holding a four-minute edge, and converted 9-for-14 third down conversions.
Foss notched 15 tackles to pace Carleton, reaching 206 in his career. Bond added 11 stops for the Knights.
The Knights are off next weekend before opening MIAC play at St. John’s University on September 17 at 1 p.m.
