NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College football team was unable to slow down a powerful Northwestern attack in the second half in a 55-14 loss on Saturday in the annual homecoming game.

The Knights' defense kept the team in the game, holding the Eagles to only seven points while the MLC offense looked to get on track.

UNW started to show signs of breaking out in the third quarter, scoring on its opening possession to push its lead to 14-0, but the Knights answered right back with a six-play, 42-yard drive that was capped by a one-yard Matt Olson touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-7.

The MLC defense continued to battle, but turnovers by the offense started to wear put the defense in tough situations, and also keep them on the field against the big, physical Eagle run game. UNW scored once more in the third quarter, and then three times in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Knights were able to score early in the fourth quarter when Olson found Joshua Arndt on a double move for a 68-yard touchdown pass, but it was not enough to keep the team within striking distance.

MLC finished the game with five turnovers (four fumbles, one interception), four of which came in the second half. 

Nick Kressin led the MLC defensive effort, finishing with eight tackles, including two tackles for loss and one forced fumble before leaving in the second half. Grant Freese (11 tackles) and Paul Habermann (11 tackles, 1.0 TFL, one forced fumble) also had strong days up front for the Knights.

Olson and the offense were held in check for much of the day, as the Eagles kept the Knights away from the kinds of chunk plays that could have turned things in their favor. Olson finished with 48 yards rushing (one touchdown) and 120 yards passing (one touchdown, one interception), and now has at least one passing and rushing touchdown in all four games for MLC this season.

Tim Keller led the Knights with 54 yards rushing, while Arndt was the top receiver with 72 yards on two catches.

MLC fell to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in UMAC play in defeat. UNW improved to 3-1 on the season and 3-0 in UMAC play with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, October 3, when they travel to St. Scholastica for a 4:30 p.m. game.