ST. PETER, Minn. – Jack Curtis broke the Carleton College football program's career completions and passing touchdowns records, leading the Knights to a 45-28 victory over the Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties. Carleton (3-1, 3-0 MIAC) remains undefeated in conference play, one of just two MIAC teams with a blank loss column this year.
 
"It's a great day to be a Knight! I am incredibly proud of how we executed to be a team like this on the road," said Carleton head coach Tom Journell. "The entire offensive output, beginning with Jack Curtis, who didn't practice again all week, with his accuracy and decision making, was outstanding. Our defense had critical stops and took the ball away when needed. It was a well-earned, meaningful win."
 
A year after snapping a 27-game losing streak to the Gusties (0-4, 0-3 MIAC this season), the Knights picked up their first win in St. Peter since 1989.
 
Curtis put together a 38-for-52 day for 378 yards, four touchdowns, and two picks. The senior now has 662 career completions, breaking Jonathan Singleton's '23 mark of 632. He has also surpassed Singleton to top the passing touchdowns leaderboard, moving to 68 scores in his career (see charts below).
 
Tyler Dimond made 10 catches for 132 yards, scored twice through the air, and picked up a rushing touchdown. He moved into 10th on the Knights' career receptions list (133), remains at sixth in receiving touchdowns (25), and has moved to sixth in receiving yards (2,122) (see charts below). Fellow wideout Jaxon Watson had a career day, setting personal collegiate bests with his nine-catch, 126-yard, one-touchdown day. Watson and Dimond's performances marked the first time Carleton has had two pass-catchers with 100+ yards since Oct. 12, 2024, when Ntense Obono '25 and Dimond did it.
 
Overall, Carleton's offense posted 483 yards and did not punt all game, being stopped only on the two turnovers.
 
Gustavus matriculated down the field on a 15-play, 75-yard drive to begin the game, ending with Dylan Blount floating a pop pass to Jordan Wold for a touchdown and a 6-0 Gusties' lead after a missed PAT. Carleton responded with a 10-play scoring drive. Watson caught a pass at the three, stayed on his feet despite being wrapped up, and spun into the endzone.
 
The Gusties went three-and-out, recovered a fumble on the ensuing punt, but then went three-and-out again. The Knights would move 75 yards down the field on 13 plays, and Curtis completed a sidearm pass on the run to Jaden Coleman for a nine-yard score, Coleman's fifth on the year.
 
The Gusties tied the score at 14-14 with a 61-yard flea flicker from Blount to Dom Mathies and added a two-point conversion with 10 minutes remaining before intermission. However, Carleton answered right back, and Dimond made a contested catch for a 34-yard touchdown at 7:14 in the quarter to return the lead to the Knights. The visitors forced a turnover on downs in their own territory, and Dimond took a reverse into the end zone from six yards with just 29 seconds on the first-half clock, giving the maize and blue a 28-14 halftime lead.
 
Carleton turned the ball over on a deep-shot interception out of the break, and the Gusties scored on a four-yard dive by Walker Britz to cut the lead to seven at 8:36 in the third. Watson turned a short toss into a 34-yard catch-and-run early on the next possession, putting Carleton in prime position and Marcus Merkelbach made it 31-21 with a 21-yard field goal at the 4:11 mark.
 
Gustavus had 4th-and-1 on the Carleton 22-yard line, but the Knights came up with a big stop next as Owen Detmer picked up a crucial open-field tackle for a loss on a fourth-down play. The clock flipped over to the fourth quarter, and two big pass plays from Curtis extended the Carleton edge. Watson hurdled a man to go for 23 yards down the right sideline, and Curtis dropped one on the button to Dimond on the next play for a 29-yard touchdown, good for a 38-21 lead at 12:41 to go.
 
Detmer got the ball back for the Knights again on the next possession, picking off Blount on an overthrow. Carleton made the most of the turnover, moving 40 yards over 11 plays with Evan Olds ramming in a one-yard score, extending his touchdown streak to four games. Caden Kleinschmidt caught a 14-yard touchdown for Gustavus with just 67 seconds left to bring the score to 45-28. The Knights caught the ensuing kickoff and knelt out the clock to beat Gustavus for the second straight year.
 
Carleton dominated in the trenches – their experienced offensive line did not allow a sack or tackle for loss all game, and their defensive front totaled four sacks and 9.0 total tackles for loss. Eric Lail led the Knights defensively with 12 total tackles and a sack. Sam Johansen picked up his first career interception, adding a sack assist and TFL assist. Jake Reinke had 11 tackles, and Spencer Goetz totaled 1.5 sacks. In addition to his interception, Detmer had 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton travels to Duluth to take on the College of St. Scholastica next Saturday, October 11 at 1:00 p.m.
 
CHARTS….
 
Most TD Passes — Career
TD Player Years
68 Jack Curtis 2022-current
65 Jonathan Singleton 2019-22
51 Shane Henfling 2005-08
50 Ted Kluender 1989,91-93
44 John Nielson 1987-90
40 Christian Zaytoun 2015-18
 
Most Completed Passes — Career
Comp. Player Years
662 Jack Curtis 2022-current
632 Jonathan Singleton 2019-22
475 Christian Zaytoun 2015-18
468 Darren Caspers 2003-06
416 Shane Henfling 2005-08
 
Most Receptions — Career
Rec. Player Years
220 Matt Frank 2005-08
214 Ntense Obono 2021-24
212 Jim Bradford 1988-91
182 Steve Gorka 1994-97
181 Emanual Williams 2016-19
174 Mack Journell 2016 & 2018-19
158 Chris Gardner 2005-08
155 Nathan Streiff 2021-2024
138 Erik Miller 1997-00
133 Tyler Dimond 2022-current
 
Most TD receptions — Career
TD Player Years
32 Jim Bradford 1988-91
28 Chris Gardner 2005-08
26 Jeff Scherer 1988-91
26 Matt Frank 2005-08
26 Ntense Obono 2021-24
25 Tyler Dimond 2022-current
 
Most Receiving Yards — Career
Yards Player Years
3719 Jim Bradford 1988-91
2766 Matt Frank 2005-08
2590 Chris Gardner 2005-08
2465 Steve Gorka 1994-97
2153 Jeff Scherer 1988-91
2122 Tyler Dimond 2022-current