MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Carleton College football team faced a 14-point deficit with 7:24 remaining, but the offense, defense, and special teams all came up with critical plays, leading the Knights to a come-from-behind 36-35 road victory over Concordia College-Moorhead.
 
Carleton (4-0, 2-0 MIAC) scored a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining to pull within 35-34. Rather than kick the extra point and likely head to overtime, the Knights elected to go for a two-point conversion and the win. Backup quarterback Nick Toole hit Rye Storrs in the end zone, giving the Knights the 36-35 victory and keeping Carleton the only undefeated team in the conference.
 
"At a time when things looked dire and bleak, we absorbed our mistakes, and stayed together in our focus on the plan. One play at a time we started making plays," said Carleton head coach Tom Journell. "Just keep playing, keep stacking, and you never know what can happen."
 
The passing attack had another big day. Quarterback Jack Curtis completed 44-of-77 passes for 370 yards and a career high-tying five touchdowns. The completion total is the second-highest figure in recorded Carleton history, while the 77 pass attempts shattered the previous high of 61 by Christian Zaytoun; at Macalester, Sept 1, 2018.
 
Nathan Streiff set a Carleton football single-game record with 17 receptions. He totaled a career-best 190 yards—tied for ninth in recorded team history—and three touchdowns. Ntense Obono added 11 grabs for 85 yards and two scores, his 16th and 17th career touchdown receptions to place him seventh all-time in Carleton history.
 
After forcing Concordia (2-2, 1-1 MIAC) to punt on the game's first possession, the Knights marched down the field in a little over three minutes. On the 12th play of the drive, Curtis found Obono for a two-yard touchdown pass.
 
The Cobbers answered with their own scoring drive after quarterback Cooper Mattern hit receiver Eric Cockhill with a 29-yard pass into the end zone, tying the game 7-7 with 6:38 remaining in the first quarter.
 
After neither team did much over the next few possessions, the Cobbers started putting together a solid drive and advanced into Carleton territory early in the second quarter. A Mattern pass was tipped by Luke Sugalski and intercepted by Isaac Simons at the 32-yard line.
 
The Knights capitalized on the turnover, making their way into Cobber territory in five plays. After another five plays, Curtis hit Obono at the 10-yard line before spinning into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day with 11:10 remaining in the first half, making the score 14-7 in favor of the visiting Knights.
 
Following the first interception thrown this season by Carleton, the Cobbers took possession at the Carleton 43-yard line. They scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Mattern to Dawson Schaeffer make the score 14-14 with just over a minute to play before intermission.
 
Early in the third quarter, following a 47-yard pass from Mattern to Schaffer, the Cobbers had first and goal at the Carleton one-yard line. The Knights held firm for three plays but on fourth down, Mattern scored running up the middle to give the Cobbers a 21-14 lead.
 
The Knights had an answer, marching 84 yards in 13 plays. The drive ended with another Curtis passing touchdown. This time a nine-yard toss to Streiff, tying the score at 21-21 with 3:15 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Cobbers went on to score 14 unanswered points, giving them a 35-21 lead with 11:19 left in the game.
 
The Knights went three-and-out and had to send the punting unit back on the field, but the defense responded by forcing the Cobbers to punt again. This time with 7:24 still on the clock, Luis Miranda came through untouched and blocked the kick, giving Carleton the ball on Concordia's 27-yard line.
 
That play injected new life into the Knights, and three plays later Curtis lofted a rainbow pass to Streiff, who made a diving catch in the end zone. The visitors were back within 35-28 with 7:01 left to play.
 
The Cobbers looked to milk the clock as they ran the ball eight times on the next drive, but on fourth down, Josiah Tusler pushed the Concordia running back out of bounds before he could turn the corner, giving the ball back to Carleton one more time.
 
The Knights' offense had the ball with 2:17 remaining in the game and an opportunity in front of them. A well-orchestrated drive included a pair of third-down conversions, and with 20 ticks left on the clock, Curtis zipped an eight-yard strike to Streiff for his third receiving touchdown of the day.
 
With the scoreboard reaching "Concordia 35, Carleton 34" with only 20 seconds left, the Knights chose to play for the win, which they secured with a pass from Toole to Storrs in the corner of the end zone.
 
Both teams had over 400 yards of total offense, with Carleton running a whopping 98 plays compared to 69 for the Cobbers.
 
The defense was led Simmons, who finished with 11 tackles and the interception. Defensive lineman Michael Carey collected 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton return to Laird Stadium for Homecoming as the Knights taking on cross-town rival St. Olaf on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.