DECORAH, Iowa – The Luther football team won its third game of the season by defeating Cornell College 26-13. An 87-yard touchdown run by
Anthony Thornton with 12:22 remaining capped off a three-play drive in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Norse. This is the first season since 2017 that Luther has won at least three games in a season.
The only score in the first quarter was a one yard touchdown run for
Trent White for a 6-0 lead for the Norse.
In the second quarter, the Rams tied the game as they recovered a Luther fumble and returned it 30 yards for the touchdown. Cornell missed the extra point to tie the game at 6-6. With 1:11 before halftime,
Sean Medcalfe made a 51-yard field goal to give the Norse a 9-6 lead going into the locker room.
Luther opened the third quarter with a five-play, 63-yard touchdown drive this time a 24-yard touchdown run by White and the extra point made it 16-6. At 3:58 Medcalfe made a 36-yard field goal to give the Norse a 13-point lead (19-6). The Rams answered on two plays which included a 72-yard touchdown pass at 3:19 to pull within six (19-13).
After the Rams punted from their own 28, the Norse drove 89 yards in three plays. Thornton went on an 87-yard touchdown run which included breaking a tackle across midfield. Medcalfe's extra point extended the lead to 26-13 at 12:22.
The Norse offense was built around the run, finishing with 309 rushing yards. White finished with a season-high 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns, marking his third game with 100 or more rushing yards.The Rams were held to 198 yards of total offense, including 56 on the ground.
Tyler Ragan moved into second all-time for career total tackles and now has 352 in his career. He surpassed Trent Kerrigan (2009-12) who recorded 347 in his career. Ragan had eight tackles including five solo in the game and one tackle for a loss.
Sean Medcalfe made two field goals from 36-yards and 51-yards. His 51-yard field goal in the second quarter tied his own school record from a year ago in the game against Wartburg (Oct.4, 2025).
CJ Walker was 10-for-12 passing for 94 yards.
Defensively, Ragan led the team in tackles with eight followed by
Jacob Olerud with five and
Christopher Jones and
Ash Wiley with four each.
Up next Luther hosts Illinois College on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. for homecoming.
