Luther hosted St. Olaf College for its season opener in Carlson Stadium this afternoon. Four plays turned the tied in a game that saw St. Olaf come out on top 19-7.

Both teams scored on their very first possessions. St. Olaf took the opening kick-off and led 3-0 lead following a 28-yard field goal by Collin Swan. The Oles ate up 6:50 of the clock and covered 60 yards in 13 plays.

Luther responded with a five play, 74-yard drive, capped off with a three-yard plunge by Vershon Brooks. Michael Lorento, who finished the afternoon with a career best 224 passing yards, connected with Andre Atkins for nine yards and 56-yarder  that set up the touchdown run. Atkins finished the afternoon with 8 receptions for 145 yards.

Swain kicked an 11-yard field goal early in the second quarter that pulled the Oles to within one of the Norse 7-6.

The first to two big plays by the Oles came with 14 seconds remaining in the first half. Facing a third and five on their own six-yard line, fullback Jordan Embry scored on a 94-yard touchdown run, giving the Oles the lead for good.

The final points of the afternoon came during St. Olaf's  first possession of the third quarter, a 60-yard strike from Lars Prestemon to Gabe Alada.

Two plays could have changed the outcome of this ball game for the Norse. Late in the second frame, Luther drove to the St. Olaf 22-yard line. Lorento connected with Atkins in a crowd of defenders at the one-yard line, the ball came loose as he was falling into the endzone and was ruled a catch and fumble by the officials. The fumble was recovered by the Oles on the one-yard line.

In the middle of the third quarter, Lorento connected with Brooks on a short pass to the left on third and 10 on Luther's own 26-yard line. Brooks busted past all of the Ole defenders down the sideline into the end zone, only to have the play called back due to a holding penalty.

Defensively, Sam Bundy, Hayden Glynn and Jeremy Whalen led all tacklers with double-digit totals. Bundy finished the afternoon with 15 tackles, while Glynn and Whalen were credited with 13 and 10 respectively. The Norse also recorded four sacks. Levi Wolter, who finished with nine tackles, had two. Matt Canada had one and Mafi Latu and Sam Feine were both credited with half a sack.

The loss gives Luther an overall record of 0-2. St. Olaf improved to 1-1.

One week from today, Luther begins American Rivers Conference play at home against the University of Dubuque. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.