NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College football team scored on each of its first five possessions on the way to a 42-20 win over Iowa Wesleyan in the team's home opener on Saturday.

The Knights dominated the game from the opening kick, building a 35-0 lead early in the second quarter. MLC scored on each of its first five offensive possessions and outgained the Tigers 317-112 in the first half as the teams went into the locker room with the Knights leading 35-7.

Zachary Bloomquist led the MLC offensive attack with a pair of rushing and passing touchdowns in the first half. His scoring runs came from four and 14 yards out, and he also found Michael Radue and Joshua Arndt for touchdown passes of 13 and 53 yards, respectively, in the first quarter. Josh Wong had the other first half score from 13 yards out.

While the offense slowed its high-scoring pace in the second half, the defense more than picked up the slack as the Knights forced five turnovers in the game. Four of those turnovers were interceptions against an offense that entered the game as the top passing attack in the conference. 

Kenton Fabian made the first big defensive play of the game with a first quarter interception that set up Radue's touchdown catch. Later in the game, Ian Paulsen, Joseph Herrewig and Benjamin Arndt each picked off a Tigers' pass.

The offense finished with 337 yards rushing thanks to three players with at least 90 yards on the ground. Wong led the way with 120 yards on 20 carries. Nate Stein added 19 carries for 92 yards and one second half touchdown, while Bloomquist finished with 90 yards on 25 carries.

The Knights also found success through the air. Bloomquist completed nine of 18 passes for 162 yards and two scores. Radue led the team with three catches for 72 yards. Arndt followed with a pair of receptions for 57 yards. 

Defensively, the Knights held Iowa Wesleyan to 77 yards rushing on 32 attempts. They also sacked the Tigers' quarterbacks four times. David Moreno finished with two sacks, while Keith Brassow and Daniel Gensmer each added one. Jacob Schmidt led the team with nine total tackles.

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

MLC will return to action on Saturday, September 23, when it hosts Greenville in a game scheduled to start at 1 p.m.