Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
GRINNELL, Iowa - After losing last week's season opener, the Grinnell College football team got defensive - literally - in Saturday's battle against Beloit College at Rosenbloom Field.
The Pioneers posted their first shutout since 2018, and the first in league play since 2009, with a 24-0 blanking of the Buccaneers in steamy and sticky conditions. Grinnell's defense posted eight sacks in the contest, missing the school record by just one.
The Pioneer "D" was miserly throughout, limiting the visitors to a mere 30 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, the Pioneer offense racked up 249 yards.
The win snapped a four-game losing strek, dating back to last season.
Sam Eaton '27 rushed for two of Grinnell's touchdowns and Lucky Carton '27 had the other. Ben Bortel '29 booted a 40-yard field goal, the first three-pointer in his collegiate career, for the other score.
The Pioneers shared the workload defensively, with no player accumulating more than seven tackles. Luke Konczal '29 led the charge with seven stops, Adam Whalen '28, TJ Brayboy '29 and Breck Bishop '26 added five apiece and Rory Leonard '28 came up with four.
On the sacks front, Whalen had three which ranks sixth in program history. Brayboy and Leonard added two sacks apiece.
Eaton rushed for 74 of Grinnell's 198 yards on the ground and Carton added 40 yards. Stephen Bailey '29 passed for 46 yards.
Grinnell (1-1, 1-0 Midwest Conference) scored in all four quarters, with the first-period score coming on the opening drive of the game on Eaton's 1-yard run up the middle. Bortel kicked the extra point. Hunter Jackson '27 had a 16-yard run during the drive and Matthew Johanson '28 added a 9-yarder.
The Pioneers' second-period score was set up when Beloit had a snap go over the punter's head, giving the hosts the ball at the Buccaneers' 13-yard line. On the first play of the second stanza, Carton ran the ball in from a yard out. Bortel had the point after for a 14-0 halftime lead.
Kevin Johanson '26 sparked Grinnell's third-quarter score when he stepped in front of a Beloit pass at midfield and returned the ball 18 yards. Four plays later, Bortel split the uprights from 40 yards out for a 17-0 lead.
A fumble by Beloit that was recovered by Leonard set up the final touchdown in the fourth quarter. It took 10 players before Eaton rushed in from 3 yards out and Bortel kicked the point after.
Beloit (0-2, 0-1 MWC) threatened to break up the shutout on its final drive, reaching Grinnell's 41-yard line before Whalen posted the Pioneers eighth sack of the game on fourth down. From there, it was into victory formation and the victory.
Grinnell's last shutout came against Trinity Bible College on Sep. 18, 2018, a 46-0 decision. The last MWC shutout for Grinnell was on Sep. 26, 2009, a 42-0 victory over Lawrence University.
The Pioneers will attempt to improve on their record next Saturday at Ripon College. Kickoff is 1 p.m.