CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Carleton College football team traveled to Pomona-Pitzer University for a nonconference contest to open the 2024 season. The Knights fell behind in the first half and ultimately lost by a score of 28-12. The first points for Carleton came midway through the fourth when Cooper Long recovered a blocked field goal and returned it 60-yards for a touchdown.
 
The Knights' (0-1) offense was unable to get in scoring position on their first five possessions and were forced to punt each time. Pomona-Pitzer (1-0) scored on their second drive of the game, and again to start the second quarter. The two touchdowns thrown from Grady Russo were hauled in by Quinten Wimmer, one of which was grabbed over the defender's back. Late in the second quarter, the Knights' Owen Detmer intercepted a Sagehens pass and returned it 12-yards to give Carleton the ball at the Pomona 30-yard line with 21 seconds on the clock. The offense gained 18-yards quickly on a defensive pass interference penalty and a short pass from Jack Curtis to Jaden Coleman to set up a 29-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half, but it was no good. The Sagehens went into halftime with a 14-0 lead.
 
Both defenses held strong for a scoreless third quarter. The Knights did have a 54-yard drive bringing them down to the Pomona 16-yard line. On fourth and one, a Curtis pass intended for Tyler Dimond fell incomplete leading to a turnover on downs.
 
The fourth quarter started with the third passing touchdown for the Sagehens. The Knights earned their first points of the contest on a blocked field goal returned by Long midway through the quarter. In the final minute of the game, Pomona-Pitzer returned an interception for a touchdown. The score was followed by a quick Knights' drive that included a 51-yard reception by Nathan Streiff down the right sideline. This led to the first offensive touchdown on a nine-yard pass from Curtis to Ntense Obono.
 
The Knights accumulated 224 yards of offense in the contest compared to the Sagehens' 406 yards. Curtis was 16-of-29 for 152 yards, a touchdown, and was the team's leading rusher with 41 yards. Streiff finished the game with three receptions for 69 yards and Obono recorded three receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown.
 
Sagehens' quarterback Grady Russo finished 20-for-32 for 203 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Quinten Wimmer received nine of these targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Knights were led by Henry Detmer's 15-tackle effort and Eric Lail who tallied 10.  Owen Detmer and Blake Neithart both had interceptions for Carleton.
 
The contest was the first out of state game for the Knights since 2019, and the first game outside the central time zone since 2003. The start time was pushed back twice due to excessive heat in southern California leading to the 7:00pm kickoff.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Next week is Carleton's bye-week before hosting University of Minnesota-Morris in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. at Laird Stadium.