MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Carleton College football team completed the 2023 campaign with a 41-25 victory over Augsburg University on a record-setting day for the Knights. For the first time in the 140-year history of the program, the Knights (7-3, 5-3 MIAC) have finished with three consecutive 7-win seasons.
"Our coaches had a great plan, and our players fired on all cylinders defensively, offensively, and in the kicking game, said Carleton head coach
Tom Journell. "I'm so proud of how we have grown together and prepared all year after graduating 17 starters and our entire kicking specialists. When you have great coaches and recruit scholar ballers, great things happen."
The Knights used a balanced attack of rushing and passing plays in their victory, gaining a season-high 219 yards on the ground and 260 yards in the air. Offensively, the Knights spread the ball around, with the five touchdowns scored by four different players.
Quarterback
Jack Curtis went 21-of-26, with 260 yards and three touchdowns as well as 67 rushing yards. The 21 completed passes brought his season total to 266, now the highest total in Carleton history. He finished the season with 28 touchdown passes and 2,702 passing yards. Both figures represent the second-highest totals in the Carleton record books (see charts below).
Nathan Streiff finished the day with seven receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns, and
Ntense Obono had six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. The duo moved up on the Carleton single-season charts for receiving touchdowns with Streiff (9) tied for fourth and Obono (8) tied for 14th. Obono's 83 receptions on the season is second best in Carleton history (see charts below).
The Auggies' (6-4, 4-3 MIAC) first possession of the game ended in a turnover on downs after a broken-up pass by
Eric Lail in the end zone. Augsburg began their next possession in Carleton territory, drove down the field, and were held to a field goal. On the third Auggies drive, the Knights defense held strong forcing the hosts to bring out their punt team. Augsburg's fake punt attempt did not fool the Knights as the pass attempt was broken up by
Cooper Long.
The Knights' offense took over with the ball on the Auggie 40-yard line and found the end zone five players later. Curtis connected with Obono on 20-yard touchdown pass over the Augsburg defender. The score gave Carleton a 7-3 lead just before the end of the first quarter.
The Knights stopped the Auggies on their next two possessions, and the Carleton offense took advantage of the opportunity with 7:25 remaining in the first half. On the fifth play of the drive, Curtis found
Jaxon Watson for a 29-yard deep ball, putting the Knights on the three-yard line.
Oryon Hamlin scored on the next play, scampering up the middle to give the Knights a 14-3 lead.
Augsburg answered with a quick six-play drive of its own, making the score 14-10 with 3:20 remaining in the first half.
Following a lengthy kick return of 34 yards by
Henry Detmer, the Knights' offense marched down the field, and
Marcus Merkelbach put one through the uprights from 22 yards out with time running out in the half giving Carleton a 17-10 edge at intermission.
The Knights' offense started the second half by scoring on its first possession. A 10-play drive ended in a two-yard rushing touchdown by
Bensen Han as the Knights extended their lead to 24-10.
Carleton's defense forced another turnover on downs midway through the third quarter, and the Knights capitalized when Curtis found Strieff for two yards in the end zone to cap off the eight-play, 73-yard drive.
On the ensuing kickoff, Lail forced a fumble, and it bounced into the hands of Merkelbach, the Carleton kicker. The Knights benefitted from the turnover, as Streiff hauled in his second touchdown, this time from four yards out, giving the Knights a 38-10 advantage with 1:29 to go in the third quarter.
The scoring continued as Augsburg went on a lengthy 20-play, 77-yard drive which ended in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Cade Sheehan to Tyrone Wilson, bringing the score to 38-17.
Merkelbach hit one more field goal, this one from 35 yards out, and Augsburg responded with a 12-yard touchdown catch by Dominic Smith along with a successful two-point conversion, which made the scoreboard read 41-25.
After an unsuccessful onside kick by Augsburg, the Knights were able to run the clock out until victory.
Hamlin tallied 17 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Han recorded 12 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively,
Isaac Simons led the way with 11 tackles, and
Owen Detmer tallied nine stops of his own.
Most Completions (single season)
Comp. -- Player -- Season
266 -- Jack Curtis (266-422) -- 2023
264 -- Shane Henfling (264-395) -- 2008
254 -- Christian Zaytoun (254-433) -- 2018
221 --
Jonathan Singleton (221-386) -- 2019
Most Touchdown Passes (single season)
TD -- Player -- Season
30 -- Shane Henfling -- 2008
28 -- Jack Curtis -- 2023
27 -- Christian Zaytoun -- 2018
25 -- John Nielson -- 1990
25 --
Jonathan Singleton -- 2021
Most Passing Yards (single season)
Yards -- Player -- Season
3045 -- Shane Henfling (264-395) -- 2008
2702 -- Jack Curtis (266-422) -- 2023
2305 -- Darren Caspers (183-345) -- 2006
2261 -- Christian Zaytoun (254-433) -- 2018
Most Touchdown Receptions (single season)
13 -- Jim Bradford -- 1990
13 -- Chris Gardner -- 2007
12 -- Matt Frank -- 2008
9 -- Bob Taylor -- 1980
9 -- Jeff Scherer -- 1989
9 -- Jeff Scherer -- 1990
9 -- Jim Bradford -- 1991
9 -- Brad McDowell -- 1993
9 -- Chris Gardner -- 2008
9 -- Anthony Kemper -- 2009
9 -- Anthony Kemper -- 2013
9 -- Mack Journell -- 2019
9 -- Nathan Streiff -- 2023
8 -- Mike Grossman -- 1973
8 -- Scott Hanks -- 1982
8 -- Matt Frank -- 2006
8 -- Emanual Williams -- 2019
8 -- Ntense Obono -- 2023
Most Receptions (single season)
Rec. -- Player -- Season
90 -- Matt Frank (90-990) -- 2008
83 -- Ntense Obono (83-784) -- 2023
74 -- Matt Frank (74-1120) -- 2006
74 -- Mack Journell (74-879) -- 2019
72 -- Emanual Williams (72-887) -- 2019
