DULUTH, Minn. - The Martin Luther College football team was locked in on both sides of the ball in a 27-6 win at St. Scholastica on Saturday.

After rushing for a school-record 477 yards in last year's win over the Saints, the MLC offense finished Saturday with 402 yards rushing on 75 carries. 

Defensively, MLC held CSS to only 84 total yards, including -20 yards rushing thanks to eight quarterback sacks. The defense also forced three turnovers in the game.

Austin DeNoyer had a career day for MLC on the ground with 36 carries for 225 yards and two scores, while backfield partner Joshuah Kren ran 20 times for 128 yards and one score. 

After taking a 13-6 lead into halftime without a pass completion, quarterback Ethan Aguilar tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Radue to push the lead to 20-6 early in the third quarter. With the defense continuing to hold the Saints at bay, DeNoyer put the game to bed in the opening minute of the fourth quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run.

The defense came in ready for quarterback Zach Edwards and the Saints' passing attack. Edwards entered the week averaging a UMAC-best 305 yards per game with 17 passing touchdowns, but was held to only 104 passing yards on 27 attempts thanks to the Knights' ferocious pass rush and disciplined secondary. Marquise Jackson-Hunter was a force throughout the game with 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Jacob Schmidt added 2.5 sacks. Ben Riegsecker, Keith Brassow and Nate Holz also added sacks for the MLC defense. 

Ian Paulsen recorded two interceptions to go with a pair of pass break-ups and a blocked point after attempt, while Aiden Holien also added an interception. 

MLC improved to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in UMAC play with the win. CSS fell to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league play in defeat. 

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, October 12, when it hosts Iowa Wesleyan in the Homecoming Game. That contest is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.