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beausaint
Kylie Macziewski
Beau Cornwell led the Norse offense to their most productive outing of the 2022 season.
52
Winner Buena Vista BVU 2-2 , 1-1
49
Luther LUT 0-4 , 0-2
Winner
Buena Vista BVU
2-2 , 1-1
52
Final
49
Luther LUT
0-4 , 0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
BVU Buena Vista 13 6 13 20 52
LUT Luther 14 7 7 21 49

Game Recap: Football |

Offense breaks records in tight game

Beau Cornwell breaks program record for single-game passing yards

DECORAH, Iowa  – The saying goes records are made to be broken. The Luther College football team didn't just break records in Saturday afternoon's game against Buena Vista University. The Norse shattered them. Luther scored its most single-game points since 2015, putting up 49 thanks to 587 total yards of offense, including 417 in the air. However, the offensive barrage was not enough to beat Buena Vista, as Luther fell by a final score of 52-49. With the loss, the Norse record now stands at 0-4 with a 0-2 mark in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play. 

BY THE NUMBERS
The scoring started early and often Saturday afternoon, as the Beavers opened things up with a touchdown on their very first possession. However, the Buena Vista kicker missed the extra point attempt, allowing Luther to take a 7-6 lead only a few moments later. After the Beavers scored the first points of the game, the Norse marched right down the field for their own touchdown, as Vershon Brooks (Brighton, Colo. / Brighton) ran six yards to the end zone before Joseph Mehlhorn (Farmington, Minn. / Farmington) gave Luther the 7-6 lead. Brooks extended the lead a few possessions later, putting the Norse ahead 14-6 with his second touchdown of the day. 

Buena Vista managed to cut the score to 14-13 in the closing minute of the first quarter, an indicator of the offensive display both teams were about to put on. It was again Brooks who provided offensive fireworks, as he scored his third touchdown in dramatic fashion, breaking away for a 66-yard run to the end zone to extend Luther's lead to 21-13. Again, the Beavers answered in the waning seconds, scoring a touchdown, but missing the extra point with 46 seconds in the half, allowing the Norse to walk into the locker room with a 21-19 halftime lead. 

If fans thought the first half was entertaining, the second was something to behold, especially the fourth quarter. After outscoring Buena Vista in the opening two quarters, the Beavers had Luther's number in the third, outscoring the Norse 13-7 to take a 32-28 lead entering the final quarter. 

That's when things got wild. After scoring two unanswered touchdowns in the third, Buena Vista opened the fourth with a 79 yard passing play, extending its lead to 39-28 with 14:48 remaining in regulation. Luther, though, was not deterred, as the team put together a 75-yard offensive drive, capped by a Beau Cornwell (Iowa City, Iowa / West Branch) touchdown reception from Andre Atkins (Eat Palo Alto, Calif. / Junipero Serra). Four minutes later, Blake Storby (Lake Mills, Iowa / Lake Mills Community) scored his first touchdown of the season, regaining a 41-39 lead for the Norse.

Luther's lead didn't last long, as the Beavers scored with 7:52 remaining in the game to take a 45-41 lead. The Norse were unable to score on their following possessions, but the defense held Buena Vista scoreless, giving the offense an opportunity to take a lead. Luther did just that, as Cornwell connected with Tommy Kaktis (Northwood, Iowa / Lake Mills Community) for an 84-yard touchdown reception, giving the Norse a 49-45 lead with 1:52 remaining in regulation. 

The 1:52 was enough for the Beavers to score the game-winning touchdown. Despite Luther's defensive efforts, Buena Vista took a 52-49 lead with 1:11 remaining in regulation. Though the Norse had one final offensive possession to tie the game, they were unable to score, resulting in the 52-59 Beaver victory. 

TOP NORSE

  • Beau Cornwell (Iowa City, Iowa / West Branch) broke the program record for single-game passing yards, putting up 417 yards in the air with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

  • Vershon Brooks (Brighton, Colo. / Brighton) became the first Luther running back to score three touchdowns in a single game since Parker Kizer scored three against Buena Vista in 2019. The sophomore running back closed the game with 103 net yards and three touchdowns. 

  • Tommy Kaktis (Northwood, Iowa / Lake Mills Community) was the top receiver Saturday afternoon, tallying a career-high 146 with one touchdown. 

  • Grant Keim (Littleton, Colo. / Columbine) and Brandon Deas (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Thomas B. Doherty) led the team with nine tackles a piece. 

NOTEABLES
Cornwell broke both the individual and team record for passing yards in the game with 417. The previous record was 375 set by Zach Sweers in 2006 (against Buena Vista). The sophomore quarterback also set the program record for single-game total offense with 471 yards. That record was also set by Sweers in 2006. Luther also scored 49 points against the Beavers, the most individual points scored in a game since the 2015 season. 

UP NEXT
The Norse will hit the road for their next A-R-C contest, as they face Simpson College on Saturday, October 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Indianola, Iowa.

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