PhotosNORTHFIELD, Minn. -
J.J. Strnad caught a 9-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 remaining to lift St. Olaf to a 17-13 MIAC football win over host Carleton College on Saturday afternoon at Laird Stadium.
Strnad had a 9-yard reception and 25 rushing yards to keep the game-winning drive alive. After the score, the St. Olaf (1-6, 1-4 MIAC) defense held Carleton (1-6, 0-5 MIAC) on the ensuing possession to reclaim the Goat Trophy.
Strnad rushed for 73 yards and had five catches for 43 yards. Ole quarterback
Nate Penz was 23-of-42 for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
Troy Peterson had six catches and a touchdown and
Joel Reinhardt five for 92 yards as St. Olaf snapped a 15-game losing streak and picked up its first MIAC victory since a 24-17 win over Bethel on Nov. 3, 2012.
Carleton quarterback Zach Creighton rushed for 104 yards and was 11-of-18 for 122 yards in the loss. The St. Olaf defense sacked Creighton five times, led by
John Bennett, who had 1.5.
Coleman Foley had a team-best 15 tackles while Bennett had seven, including 2.5 for a loss.
St. Olaf held advantages in first downs (22-16), total offense (400-299) and converted on on 6-of-15 third down tries. Carleton was 4-for-14 and 1-for-3 on fourth down.
The Knights took the lead early in the fourth quarter with a Creighton 2-yard run on 4th-and-goal with 13:07 left. St. Olaf tied the game on Peterson's TD catch with 10 minutes left. The St. Olaf defense held Carleton to a field goal on the ensuing possession to set up Strnad's go-ahead score.
The Oles host Augsburg College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
