Courtesy of Adam Hussman/MLC SID

FULTON, Mo. — Martin Luther College quarterback Brady Turriff set a career high in passing yards during a 38-28 win over Westminster on Saturday, posting 364 yards passing along with four touchdowns in the Upper MIdwest Athletic Conference showdown.

MLC improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in conference with the win.

On his way to his career best passing yardage, Turriff completed 19 of 28 passes with four touchdowns, while Jude Pederson reeled in a career-high 168 receiving yards on seven catches with two touchdowns. Noah Huebner (69 yards), Benjamin Vasold (64 yards), and Thomas Koelpin all went for 60-plus yard days. Arthur Robinson had another strong outing in the MLC backfield, rushing for 145 yards with a long of 29 yards. Robinson ran for over six yards per carry on 23 attempts.

The MLC defense had several key contributors, including a career-best performance from Tyler Case, who led the Knights with 11 tackles. Micah Koschnitzke recorded seven tackles, Carson Burow had six tackles, while Jeremiah Stanton and Jesus (Chuy) Medina made five stops each, as Medina also had 2.5 TFLs.

The first quarter ended 0-0 after each defense held off the other’s offense, but the Knights were able to get on the scoreboard first after Micah Koschnitzke put a 20-yard field goal through the uprights to make it 3-0.

MLC stayed the course and was able to find the big play on offense to spark things moving forward when Turriff found Koelpin for a 50-yard touchdown play, which finished off a 5-play, 82-yard drive that responded to a long touchdown drive from Westminster. After both scores, MLC went up 10-7 heading into halftime.

Both offenses got into their groove to begin the third quarter, as there were four lead changes in the game, with each squad scoring. The big play continued for the Knights’ passing game with a 40-yard and 55-yard connections from Turriff to Pederson and Huebner, with Huebner’s ending with a touchdown.

With the score 24-21 in MLC’s favor, the Knights extended their lead to 31-21 around the 10:25 mark of the fourth quarter following a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown from MLC defensive back Jasper Lawrenz. MLC piled on with another deep 70-yard touchdown play when Pederson scored his second of the day with eight minutes left.

“I’m proud of the way our offense stayed patient in the first half and then ripped off a handful of big-play touchdowns,” said MLC head coach Paul Huebner. “Our short-handed defense stiffened up and made enough plays, and our guys rallied behind Lawrenz’s pick-6.”

MLC (4-3, 2-2) will look to make it three in a row when they host Northwestern for a home game at 1 p.m. Saturday.