EUREKA, Ill. - The Martin Luther College football team fell behind early and never recovered in a 38-7 loss at Eureka on Saturday.

The Red Devils wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring on a 60-yard run on the first play of the game.

The MLC offense was unable to get going throughout the first half, finishing with 32 total yards through two quarters as Eureka built a 31-0 lead going into the locker room.

The Knights were able to get on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter thanks to a T.J. Babinec 13-yard touchdown run, but that would be the only scoring the Knights could muster as the Red Devils closed out the win.

Eureka made life difficult for the Knights on the ground, holding MLC to 115 yards on 43 attemps. The passing game was unable to pick up the slack for MLC, as Babinec finished 4-15 through the air for 25 yards and a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Nate Stein was the team's leading rushing with 45 yards on 11 carries. Ian Paulsen led the team with 23 yards receiving on a pair of receptions.

Yaffet Gabayehu finished tied with Chris Dean for the team lead with eight tackles, and also recovered a fumble.

The Knights fell to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in UMAC play in defeat. Eureka improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the win.

MLC will return home to host Crown College on Saturday, September 17. That game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m.