NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Despite a brilliant first half from running back Aiden Chang (Jr./Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) and three defensive turnovers, the Carleton College football team ultimately succumbed, 38-10, to the Saint John's University, the No. 5-ranked team in the country. The Knights' point total surpassed the Johnnies' previous five opponents combined.
 
Carleton (6-3, 4-3 MIAC) began the second quarter down by three touchdowns, but their first major opportunity of the game came on the very first play of the period. Blake Neithart (So./Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) intercepted a pass from Johnnies quarterback Chris Backes at the visitors' 34-yard-line, giving the Knights their best starting field position of the day. Despite a pair of completions from quarterback Jonathan Singleton (Jr./San Martin, Calif./Live Oak) on the ensuing drive, the Knights were stopped on fourth down, ending their scoring chances.
 
After a touchdown from the visitors, the Knights got the ball back with a little over six minutes remaining in the quarter. Steadied by back-to-back long runs by Chang, the Knights put together their best drive of the day up to that point, a 9-play, 45-yard sequence that took a little over 4 minutes off the clock. Carleton was unable to get on the scoreboard, however, as the offense came up short on a fourth-and-three from the Johnnies' 28-yard line.
 
Carleton's defense provided a spark on the next Saint John's (9-0, 7-0 MIAC) possession, forcing a three-and-out to give the Knights the ball back with a little over two minutes remaining. Carleton proceeded to put together a 4-play, 40-yard yard scoring drive as time wound down in the half. Chang accounted for all 40 yards during the possession, which culminated in a 36-yard field goal from Trent Ramirez (Jr./Denver, Colo./George Washington) as time expired. Chang's 103 yards on 12 rushes during the first two quarters nearly eclipsed his career-high of 115 rush yards.
 
Carleton was forced to punt on their first drive of the fourth quarter, but it only took the Knights five plays to get the ball back, as an Isaac Simons' (Jr./Oconomowoc, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran) interception gave the home team their second turnover of the day and the ball at the 50-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Sergio Yap (Fy./Plymouth, N.H./Holderness) broke off a 33-yard run, the Knights' longest play of the afternoon, to set Carleton up in the red zone. Two plays later, Singleton found Ty Judge (Sr./Evergreen, Colo./Clear Creek) in the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown.
 
The home team forced another turnover on Saint John's ensuing possession, as a Noah Eckersley-Ray (Jr./Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) fumble recovery at the Knights' 49 set the stage for another extended Carleton drive. The home team put together an 11-play drive that ended with less than 20 seconds left in the game.
 
Chang finished the game with 108 yards on 14 rushes for his second career 100-yard rushing day. Judge led the Carleton receiving corps with 22 yards on two catches, including a touchdown. Travis Brown (Sr./St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) and Simons racked up 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, to lead the Knights' defense.
 
Backes finished with 243 yards on 20 completions for the Johnnies, with receiver Ravi Alston hauling in nine balls for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Carleton outgained the visitors on the ground, 169 yards to 143, although they finished with 224 total yards of offense compared to Saint John's 406 yards.
 
Up Next for the Knights:
Carleton travels to Macalester College for a rematch with the Scots during MIAC Championship Week. The game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13.