ST. PAUL, Minn. – In an unforgettable game that featured a Hail Mary touchdown, a kickoff return score, and a last-minute go-ahead TD pass, the Carleton College football team maintained the Book of Knowledge trophy with a 48-45 win over Macalester College.
Carleton (1-1, 1-0 MIAC) has captured the Book of Knowledge rivalry trophy in six straight games against Macalester (1-1, 0-1 MIAC), with the Knights' last loss to the Scots coming in 2018.
Coach
Tom Journell said after the game that "It's always great to beat a rival team. Lot of impact players who stepped up tonight and made some really big plays. Our quarterback [
Tyler Mastronardi] threw a lot tonight, he took care of the football, we executed at a really high level on offense. We're gonna enjoy this one and get ready for the next rivalry game".
The Knights struck quickly, scoring on their second play from scrimmage after
Tyler Dimond took a handoff on a sweep and threw to fellow wideout
Cooper Pollard for a 40-yard touchdown. Macalester responded with an 8-play, 65-yard touchdown drive capped by a seven-yard toss from Jack Scully to Tucker Snow at 13:24 in the first. Both teams missed their PATs to keep the score at 6-6. Dimond picked up the kickoff after the Mac touchdown and romped for 83 yards and the first Carleton touchdown return on a kickoff since Oct. 2, 2021, by Travis Brown, also against Macalester. The Scots matriculated 77 yards down the field on 14 plays to tie the game on a one-yard Scully-to-Kelly Storms TD pass with 3:12 to go in the quarter. The first frame ended with the teams tied at 13.
Matt Geivett made his first career field goal at 13:26 in the second to hand the Knights a 16-13 edge. Scully connected with Storms again six minutes later to give the Scots their first lead of the game at 20-16. A 40-yard punt return by
Jaxon Watson set up a five-yard TD plunge by
Deon Bergner to return the lead to Carleton with 2:41 left in the half, but Andrew Wetherill booted a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 23 with nine seconds on the clock. Macalester's kickoff went out of bounds, and a short play and penalty put the Knights at the Scot 43 with time for one more play. Mastronardi heaved the ball over 50 yards in the air to the back of the end zone, where
Justin Sterner made an incredible catch to complete the Hail Mary and send Carleton into intermission up 29-23.
Dimond completed his second touchdown pass of the game with 10:54 to go in the third, hitting Watson from 10 yards out on another trick play. Brennan Litchford concluded an eight-play touchdown march for Macalester four minutes later with a 10-yard rushing score, and the tally stood at 35-30 Carleton. Mastronardi helped the Knights take advantage of another great Watson punt return with a two-yard sneak one-and-a-half minutes into the fourth quarter, putting Carleton up 41-30. The Scots posted back-to-back touchdowns in the final quarter, with Scully finding Paxton Boyd from 19 yards out with 7:51 remaining and David Frechette running it in for three yards at 1:49. That second score put Mac up 45-41, but gave Mastronardi and the Knights just enough time.
The junior QB completed five straight passes to cap the drive, leading the Knights 64 yards down the field in just 82 seconds. Mastronardi found Dimond in the corner of the end zone for the crucial touchdown, putting the maize and blue up 48-45 with 20 seconds left. A Scully prayer pass as time expired was intercepted by
Cordae Williams to end the game.
Mastronardi completed 26-of-35 passes for a career-high 210 yards and two touchdowns. Dimond scored in three different ways, with 50 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, a kick-return score, and a receiving TD that ties him for second all-time in Carleton history for career TD receptions (see chart below). Pollard led the Knights with seven catches, 82 receiving yards, and a score. Sterner's miracle catch marked his first career touchdown.
Ronan Thomas led the game with a career-best 10 tackles.
Brayden McKinley also registered a collegiate best with eight stops.
Chase Dimond notched his first career solo sack, and
Zach Ventura recorded two TFL assists.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton travels to the "school across the river" for the Goat Trophy Game, meeting St. Olaf College on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Carleton Football Career Touchdown Receptions Leaders
1. 32 - Jim Bradford - 1988-91
2. 28 – Chris Gardner – 2005-08
2. 28 - Tyler Dimond - 2022-Present
4. 26 - Jeff Scherer - 1988-91
4. 26 – Matt Frank – 2005-08
4. 26 - Ntense Obono - 2021-2024
