Macalester evens record with 31-14 win over Hiram
Macalester beat Hiram (Ohio) 31-14 in a game played in Elmhurst, Illinois, a neutral site halfway between these two schools. The Scots led 17-7 at halftime on a couple Clark Bledsoe (Jr., Jacksonville, Fla. / Episcopal) touchdown strikes and on the day collected 401 total yards and 24 first downs. The Scots have won three of their past four games and are now 3-3 on the season. Hiram of the North Coast Athletic Conference falls to 1-5.
T. Joe Loiselle (Sr., Chippewa Falls, Wis.) ran for 91 yards and Joe Dykema (So., Roseville, Minn.) wrapped up the win with a 39-yard interception return early in the third quarter. Riley Koval (Jr., Mount Horeb, Wis.) caught eight passes for 83 yards and Bledsoe was 20-for-31 for 239 yards and no interceptions on the day.
Tyler Hill (Jr., Beaver Dam, Wis. / Wayland Academy) led Macalester with 10 tackles and Nate Sands (Sr., Madison, Wis. / East) registered nine. Mac's defense forced a loss of yardage on nine plays and gave up just three third-down conversions.
Macalester scored on its second offensive possessions with a quick 65-yard drive which culminated on a 15-yard Bledsoe to Mike Snavely (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest) TD strike. On the team's next drive, starting when Hiram ran out of downs, the Scots marched 83 yards on 12 plays. The big plays were a 30-yard Koval reception and 16-yard Bledsoe run. Mac capped it off with a Bledsoe pass to Sam Marshall (Jr., Sun Prairie, Wis.) pass from 11-yards away.
After Hiram cut the lead in half at 14-7, Auburn Jimenez (So., East Los Angeles, Calif. / St. John Bosco) booted a 22-yard field goal to put the Scots up by 10 at the break.
Hiram began the second half with a three-and-out and after a Mike Adams (Jr., Chippewa Falls, Wis.) 28-yard punt return, the Scots struck again to remain in charge at 24-7. Adams, who set a school punt return record last year with a 10.7 average, is averaging 10.5 on 14 returns this season. He's also netting 24.7 yards per kickoff return.
Loiselle capped the drive with a 1-yard run for his 22nd career rushing touchdown, tying the school record established by Jake McDonnell (2006-10). He has rushed for 583 yards through the season's first six games.
Dykema ran his third pick of the season back 39 yards early in the third quarter to give Macalester a 31-7 advantage and put the icing on the cake.
Hiram was led by Oliver Dickerho with 15 tackles and Richard Simpson with four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.
This was the first game ever between these two schools.
The Scots get next weekend off and will return to action Oct. 22 at home against Carleton at 1 p.m.
