NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College football team erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to claim a thrilling 28-27 overtime victory against visiting Concordia College-Moorhead.
The Knights (6-1, 4-1 MIAC) trailed 21-7 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but received a pair of late touchdown passes from Jonathan Singleton to force overtime. The first was a 49-yard catch-and-run for Beau Nelson with 9:20 still to play, and the comeback was completed when Garrett Siff hauled in a 35-yard "Hail Mary" from Singleton on fourth-and-20 with 0:06 left in regulation.
Concordia (2-5, 1-4 MIAC) scored another touchdown on its first possession of overtime, but a bad snap led to a failed point after attempt that left the score 27-21. Carleton answered as Singleton connected with Nelson for a nine-yard touchdown that knotted things back up. Concordia took a timeout to try and ice kicker Trent Ramirez, but the junior drilled the extra point to spark the on-field celebration, making this Homecoming even more special.
The triumph secures the Knights' first winning season since 2008 as Carleton has won six of its first seven games for the first time since starting the 1992 season 8-0 en route to winning the MIAC title that year.
"Amazing day," said Carleton head coach Tom Journell. "So many people contributed in so many ways. We demonstrated a 'one play at a time' resiliency that is foundational for MIAC Championships. We are seeing the results of an accumulation of four years of hard work by many students, coaches, administrators and staff."
Concordia wasted little time getting the scoring started in today's contest as quarterback Tanner DuBois scored on a 43-yard scramble to cap the Cobbers' opening possession of the game. Carleton answered back with a 10-play scoring drive as Singleton found Nathan Strieff from two yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
Concordia reached the end zone on consecutive drives during the second quarter, the first on a 16-yard pass from DuBois to Peyton Mortenson, and the other was a one-yard plunge by Ben Hoggarth with 11 seconds remaining before halftime
The scoreboard stayed 21-7 in favor Concordia until the middle of the fourth quarter. Singleton found Nelson near the right sideline, and the senior receiver slipped a tackle and raced to the end zone for Carleton's longest play of the day.
Concordia marched back down the field and had 4th-and-1 at the Carleton nine-yard line. Instead of attempting a field goal that would make it a two-possession game, the Cobbers elected for a quarterback sneak, but the Knight defense held and turned Concordia over on downs for the third time in the game.
That defensive stand gave the ball back to Singleton with 2:42 left in regulation, but the end zone was 90 yards away.
Undaunted, the junior quarterback delivered a little Homecoming magic. He scrambled for 17 yards on 3rd-and-7 and then found Carl Marvin for a 19-yard gain into Concordia territory. Singleton and Streiff had a 13-yard connection to advance to the Cobbers' 25-yard line. After a sack and a penalty, the Knights faced 4th-and-20 from the 35-yard line with 14 ticks still on the clock.
Singleton rolled right to buy time for his receivers to get down field and threw into the end zone. Siff went up amongst a crowd of players and somehow pulled down the pass and the edge of the end zone. Ramirez made the extra point, sending the teams to overtime knotted at 21-21.
Concordia held the ball for 11:09 in the fourth quarter and tallied no points, while Carleton totaled only 3:51 of possession time and still had the two touchdowns.
In overtime, Concordia went back to the running game, rushing five times. Hoggarth punched it in from three yards out, but the failed PAT left the door open for the Knights.
On Carleton's overtime possession, Singleton first connected with Marvin for six yards, then a Concordia penalty advanced the ball to the 9-yard line. On the next snap, Nelson was wide open when he hauled in a pass in the left flat, allowing him to race untouched to the end zone. Ramirez' extra point secured the 28-27 result.
Concordia finished with 463 yards of total offense. Hoggarth led the rushing attack with 113 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. DuBois finished with 272 passing yards with a touchdown in the air and another on the ground.
Singleton totaled with 271 passing yards—213 of them after halftime—and four touchdowns. He has 20 touchdowns this season, tied for the fourth highest single-season total in recorded team history (see chart below). Singleton now has 39 touchdown passes in his first two seasons, fifth-best in team annals. (see chart below). He also ran for 56 yards. Nelson finished with career bests of 11 catches, 118 receiving yards, and two touchdown catches.
Travis Brown led the Carleton defense with 12 tackles, while Ryan McGregor had nine stops and two pass breakups.
Next Up for the Knights
Carleton's homestand continues with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday, Oct. 30.
Most Touchdown Passes (single season)
TD -- Player -- Year
30 -- Shane Henfling -- 2008
27 -- Christian Zaytoun -- 2018
25 -- John Nielson -- 1990
20 -- Shane Henfling -- 2007
20 -- Jonathan Singleton -- 2021
19 -- Ted Kluender -- 1992
19 -- Jonathan Singleton -- 2019
Most Touchdown Passes (career)
TD -- Player -- Years
51 -- Shane Henfling -- 2005-08
50 -- Ted Kluender -- 1989,91-93
44 -- John Nielson -- 1987-90
40 -- Christian Zaytoun -- 2015-18
39 -- Jonathan Singleton -- 2019-pres
38 -- C.G. Shoap -- 1994-97