NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College football team ran wild on Homecoming, beating the Hamline University Pipers 63-14 to move to 5-0 in MIAC play for the first time since 1992.

The Knights' (5-1, 5-0 MIAC) offense posted more than 500 yards for the fourth time this year in the victory. Jack Curtis went 29-for-39 at quarterback for 401 yards and six touchdowns, becoming Carleton's first passer with three games of six or more touchdowns. Rye Storrs caught 10 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, with all those numbers tying or setting career highs. Cooper Pollard made two touchdown grabs, totaling 111 yards on five receptions, also all career highs. Nick Toole ran for two touchdowns on the ground, and backup signal caller Tyler Mastronardi threw for a score and ran for a team-high 76 yards on just five totes.

Coach Tom Journell was thrilled with his team's ability to respond to adversity, including a rash of injuries. "This was another great team win where players stepped up when needed. Jack Curtis continues to play at an elite level. Our offensive line protected him, we ran the ball when we needed to, and on defense, we did not give up big plays. All around, a great day to be a Knight!" With the win, Journell has now skippered Carleton to five straight seasons with a record at .500 or better.

The Knights got going early, as Curtis found Storrs on a corner route for a 12-yard tally on their first drive. They doubled up their lead on the Pipers (1-5, 0-5 MIAC) when Pollard burst free down the left sideline for a 41-yard catch-and-run score at 3:20 in the first quarter.

Hamline made it 14-7 when veteran wideout Dawson Schaffer made a touchdown grab to open the second quarter. After a short kickoff, the Knights needed just four plays to find pay dirt on a Toole direct-snap rush from five yards out. Carleton had a 25-drive streak without having to punt, snapped on their next possession, but after another defensive stop, they crossed the plane again when Jaden Coleman caught his eighth total touchdown of the season on a swing pass from four yards out.

Curtis hit James Alexander for a 19-yard TD at 1:55 to go in the half after the defense forced a three-and-out. This was followed by an Antonio Barrera interception that set the Knights up to score again with just 28 seconds before the break on a Curtis-to-Storrs connection.

Carleton drove to the red zone to start the second half, fumbled, but regained possession on an Eric Lail pick. The homecoming hosts turned the short field into another Toole rushing touchdown.Hamline got on the board again on a QB sneak by Jacob Aki with 1:09 to go in the third quarter, making it 49-14.

Curtis hit Pollard for his second long-shot touchdown of the proceedings — this one for 37 yards — just 45 seconds into the fourth quarter. Mastronardi capped the game's scoring with a short pitch-and-catch to Lukas Foss for Mastronardi's first passing touchdown and Foss's first receiving score.

The defense limited Hamline to just 237 total yards. Standouts included Owen Detmer and Jacob Ventura tying for the game high with nine tackles apiece, Rider McCormick breaking up three passes, and Spencer Goetz tallying 2.0 sacks.

Up Next for the Knights
Carleton heads to Collegeville, Minn., to take on No. 10 Saint John's University next Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.