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lopezpresentation
Kylie Macziewski
Diego Lopez waits for a pass from Beau Cornwell in the second quarter of Saturday's game.
29
Winner Presentation PRE 1-0 , 0-0
6
Luther LUT 0-1 , 0-0
Winner
Presentation PRE
1-0 , 0-0
29
Final
6
Luther LUT
0-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
PRE Presentation 7 9 10 3 29
LUT Luther 6 0 0 0 6

Game Recap: Football |

Football battles in season opener against Presentation

Norse fall late 29-6

DECORAH, IOWA  – Anticipation hung in the air for the Luther College football team's first game of the 2022 season. With a new coach at the helm, Norse fans were hungry for a competitive game at Legacy Field in Carlson Stadium. While they didn't see a victory, Luther fans were treated to highly entertaining football, as the Norse battled in their 29-6 season opening loss to Presentation.

BACK ON THE BLUE
Luther actually held the momentum early in the first quarter, as monster plays on offense set the Norse up perfectly to score the first touchdown of the game. During the first drive of the game, sophomore running back Vershon Brooks (Brighton, Colo. / Brighton) broke the ankles of multiple Saints, blasting off for a 45-yard rush to put Luther in the red zone just minutes into the game. Presentation's defense, though, managed to keep the Norse off the scoreboard, but the momentum continued to sizzle on the Luther side of the field.

Even after the Saints scored the first touchdown of the game, the Norse answered with a touchdown of their own, as Beau Cornwell (Iowa City, Iowa / West Branch) found Diego Lopez (Hazel Green, Wis. / Southwestern) in the back of the Presentation end zone on Luther's next offensive position, closing the gap to 7-6 with three quarters remaining in regulation. 

The Norse and the Saints put on a show in the remaining 45 minutes of regulation, as both teams pulled out on the stops on offense and defense. A safety by the Presentation defensive bolstered its lead to 9-6 before another touchdown gave the visitors a 16-6 lead at the half. However, Luther continued to battle, using laterals, fake punt plays and key defensive stops to stay within two scores of the Saints. Wear and tear, though, eventually caught up to the Norse, as they allowed 13 second half points, resulting in the 29-6 Presentation win. 

TOP NORSE

  • Vershon Brooks (Brighton, Colo. / Brighton) led the offensive charge for Luther, as the sophomore running back tallied 127 net yards on 24 carries. Diego Lopez (Hazel Green., Wis. / Southwestern) was the top receiver with 109 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions. 
  • Junior quarterback Beau Cornwell (Iowa City, Iowa / West Branch) completed 17 passes for 279 years with one touchdown. 
  • Brandon Deas (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Thomas B. Doherty) led the Norse defenseman with 11 total tackles (six solo, five assists)

QUOTABLES
Thoughts from football head coach Joe Troche:

"We had a great environment today to support our players, which I really appreciated. Our team got a chance today to show what they are really about. They fought hard and played as hard as they could from the first play to the last, and I'm proud of them for that."

"We played a talented team that outlasted us. We made plays to get close, but we didn't finish and that was the difference. I'm looking forward to seeing how we respond tomorrow and this week. We'll need more guys to step up as we prepare for a very talented opponent."
 

UP NEXT
Luther will close its nonconference season next Saturday when the Norse travel to St. Olaf College for their final game before American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play begins. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT in Northfield, Minnesota. 

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