Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's football team may not have beaten Monmouth College Saturday at Rosenbloom Field, but for most of the contest they made sure the Fighting Scots knew they were in for a battle.
Monmouth, a team receiving votes for the national rankings, led the Pioneers just 21-9 at halftime and 28-9 after three quarters before pulling away in the final stanza for a 49-9 victory.
Grinnell (1-2 Midwest Conference, 1-3 overall) fell behind 14-0 in the first period when the Fighting Scots scored on their few possessions, but then it was the hosts' turn. After being forced to punt on their first two possessions, the Pioneers went on a 12-play, 59-yard drive that included rushes of 15 and 11 yards by Marcus Sung '28. Sung had a busy day running the ball, gaining 71 yards on 28 touches.
When the drive stalled, Ben Bortel '29 booted a 33-yard field goal to make it 14-3 with 9:07 left in the second period.
Monmouth (3-0 MWC, 3-1 overall) scored a touchdown on its next drive, but the Pioneers bounced right back with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard TD run by Sung with 3 seconds left in the half. Luke Konczal '29 highlighted the drive with a 33-yard scamper on a fake punt, while quarterback Stephen Bailey '29 later hit Vincent Shen '29 with a 13-yard pass. After Sung's touchdown, the Pioneers tried a two-pointer but it was no good.
Monmouth went ahead 28-9 midway through the third quarter and had its next drive halted with a fumble that Bert Greene '26 recovered. However, the Pioneers were later forced to punt. The Fighting Scots scored three touchdowns in the final period, with two the result of a fumble and interception on Grinnell's end.
Besides Sung's big rushing game, Bailey completed 11 passes for 28 yards.
Defensively, Konczal had 10 tackles, Jake Warren '28 posted eight, Kevin Johanson '26 and Adam Whalen '28 added seven each and Peyton Williams '27 and Hays Marionneaux '28 tallied six apiece.
Grinnell hits the road next Saturday to play Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. Kickoff is 1 p.m.