JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The Martin Luther College football team lost its Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opener at MacMurray by the score of 54-28 on Saturday.

The Knights battled the high-powered Highlanders up and down the field and led 21-20 midway through the third quarter, but the up-tempo MacMurray offense proved too tough to stop in the second half.

MLC finished the game with 309 yards rushing to go with 141 passing yards, but the Highlanders’ no-huddle offense ran 86 plays in the game and gave the Knights problems in the air and on the ground.

The Knights fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, but rallied to tie the game 14-14 in the second quarter thanks to touchdown runs by Nate Stein and Josh Wong.

The Highlanders scored just before the half to take a 20-14 lead, but MLC came right back and took a 21-20 lead early in the third quarter thanks to a Justin Rue touchdown reception from Zachary Bloomquist.

MacMurray started to assert itself from there, scoring three times to take a 40-21 lead until Bloomquist cut into the deficit with an eight-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as the Knights would get as the Highlanders added two more scores in the final minutes to seal the win.

Stein led the Knights 131 rushing yards on 17 carries. Bloomquist added 63 yards rushing and 54 yards passing. Ian Paulsen led the team with 89 yards passing and completed four of his eight attempts. Rue and Joshua Arndt combined for five receptions and finished with 58 and 55 yards receiving, respectively.

Tristan Pankow and Kenton Fabian led the defensive effort with 13 tackles apiece. Joseph Herrewig and Jared Witkowiak each recorded seven tackles and forced one fumble.

The Knights fell to 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in UMAC play in defeat, while MacMurray improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in league play with the win.

MLC will return to action on Saturday when it hosts Iowa Wesleyan in a game scheduled to start at 12 p.m.

Women’s Soccer gets sut out by Nebraska Wesleyan

WINONA — The Martin Luther College women’s soccer team lost to Nebraska Wesleyan by the score of 3-0 on Saturday on the first of a two-day tournament at St. Mary’s.

The Knights fell behind 2-0 on NWU goals in the 22nd and 40th minutes, and then conceded the third and final goal in the 57th minute.

The Prairie Wolves controlled play for much of the game and were credited with 20 shots (12 of which were on goal). Starting goalkeeper Erin Feddersen stopped seven of the nine shots she faced for MLC before giving way to Maria Tomassetti in the second half.

Morgan Hill led MLC with two shots, one of which was on goal.

The Knights fell to 0-1-1 on the season following the loss. The Prairie Wolves improved to 1-3-1 with the win.

MLC will play its second game of the tournament at 12 p.m. on Sunday.

Men’s soccer drops a 2-1 match at St. Mary’s tournament

WINONA — The Martin Luther College men’s soccer team lost 2-1 against Nebraska Wesleyan on day one of a two-day tournament at St. Mary’s on Saturday.

The Knights broke a scoreless tie early in the second half thanks to Caleb Koelpin’s first collegiate goal in the 47th minute of an assist from Nathan Graumann.

The Prairie Wolves scored the equalizer in the 64th minute, and then scored the game-winner in the 85th minute to earn the one-goal win.

Each team finished with four shots on goal, with MLC keeper Caleb King stopping two of the four shots he faced.

Joseph Graumann led MLC with three total shots and two shots on goal.

MLC fell to 0-3 on the season in defeat, while Nebraska Wesleyan improved to 2-2 following the win.

The Knights will return to action on Sunday.