By MILES SOUZA
Beloit College football secured their first win of the season and first conference win against the Grinnell College Pioneers. The Bucs won their second Midwest Conference matchup by a score of 16-7.
Football headed into the weekend of the Grinnell game after a heart-wrenching loss to Knox College in their annual Homecoming Game. After many chances, the team fell short, 13-17.
After that gut-wrenching loss, the Bucs were determined to come back with a win the following weekend. The matchup against the Pioneers was set to be a very close, back-and-forth contest. The Bucs throughout the history of the program are 7-7 against Grinnell and have lost by 10 and eight points the last two years.
Grinnell got on the board first with a seven-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. But, the Bucs answered right back with a touchdown of their own. Sophomore wide receiver Tommy Dixson’27 got the Bucs on the board after catching a nine-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left in the first quarter.
The second quarter was all Bucs. The defense set the tone early and was bringing immense pressure to Grinnell’s quarterback. Freshman cornerback Elijah Henderson’28, got the quarter off to a hot start, tackling a Grinnell receiver for a loss of yards and a safety, giving Beloit their first lead of the game, 9-7.
Beloit then got the next kickoff and began marching down the field. Senior quarterback Jacob Shafer’25 connected with junior wide receiver Chris Moore’26 for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The play put the Bucs up 16-7 going into halftime.
The Bucs’ defense controlled the second half, making it three consecutive quarters without a Pioneer score. They also held Grinnell to a 1-4 performance in the red zone. The Bucs sealed the deal, taking their first win of the season, 16-7.
Shafer ended the game with two touchdown passes and 134 yards in the air. The Beloit duo of running backs Drake Marquez’25 and Bryan Casado’26 led the way on the ground, picking up 74 and 69-yard performances. Dixson led the receivers with 54 yards on four catches.
After their conference win in Grinnell, the Bucs had a week off to regroup before facing a very tough opponent. Beloit headed to the University of Chicago this weekend for their third Midwest Conference matchup of the season.
The Buccaneers put up a fight against the Maroons and kept the game close. But they dropped the game 23-3. 23 points for the University of Chicago was the lowest score the Bucs have held the Maroons to since 2013, showing some promise for the next couple of weeks of conference play.
Shafer ended the game with 179 yards. Passing was the only thing working as any running for the Bucs ran into the brick wall that is the University of Chicago’s defensive line. Senior receiver AJ Fitzpatrick’25 led the way with 58 yards receiving.
Beloit will take on Cornell College at home, on Saturday, October 12, at 1 p.m.
Featured Image: Beloit College
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