NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College football team lost 47-21 to Greenville Saturday after the Panthers scored 34 unanswered points in the second half.

The Knights executed their gameplan in the first half, and took a 21-13 lead into the break after rushing for 317 yards. Matt Olson ran for a pair of touchdowns, including a 51-yarder on the third play of the game, and went into the locker room with 148 yards on the ground. 

T.J. Babinec also had a big first half, rushing for 111 yards on eight carries. He scored on a 59-yard run late in the first quarter to help the Knights to the early lead.

The defense was also strong in the first half, holding the high-powered Panthers' running attack to only 31 yards on 16 carries in the first two quarters, helping the Knights win the time of possession battle 21:23-8:37.

Greenville would take over in the second half, however. Panther quarterback Jacob Battaglia threw three of his four touchdown passes after the half, and made the Knights' defense pay for stacking the line of scrimmage in an attempt to hold down the rushing attack.

After the Panthers pushed the pass defenders back, they started to have success in the run game, rushing for 144 yards in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

MLC finished the day with a season-high 398 yards rushing, led by Olson's 183 yards on 26 carries. Babinec finished with 110 yards, while Eddie Endicott helped move the chains with 74 yards on 17 carries.

The Knights weren't able to get anything going through the air, however, finishing just 2-12 for 14 total passing yards. Greenville finished with 343 passing yards, and completed 14 of 21 passes.

Ben Ewings led the defensive effort with ten tackles, while Nick Kressin finished with five solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Tim Keller added nine tackles and one pass break-up in his first game on defense this season.

The Knights fell to 2-6 on the season and 1-6 in UMAC play in defeat. Greenville improved to 3-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play following the win.

MLC will return to action on Saturday, October 31, when it hosts Iowa Wesleyan. That game will start at 1 p.m.