NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College football team put together its most complete performance of the season in a 39-0 shutout win over University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) on Saturday.

The shutout win was the first for the Knights this season, and also the program's first shutout since a 49-0 win over the Cougars during the 2019 season. 

The Cougars entered the game with one of the most explosive offenses in the UMAC, but were held to 182 yards for the game. While the Knights didn't force any turnovers, they allowed only 3.0 yards per play, and allowed only one of the Cougars' first eight drives to cross the 50-yard-line.

The offense was once again led by a strong ground game, as sophomore running back Carson Oestreich ran 22 times for 171 yards and three scores. Sophomore quarterback Max Nordlie added 42 yards and a pair of rushing scores on 10 carries.

Nordlie also had the most efficient passing day of his career, completing 10 of 13 passes for 170 yards and one score. Mason Cox had a career day at receiver, catching six passes for 100 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown reception in which he broke multiple tackles on a short pass.

Oestreich started the scoring with a 56-yard sprint on the Knights' opening possession, and then added touchdown runs of six and 14 yards, respectively, later in the game.

After Oestreich's second score of the game early in the second quarter, Cox's touchdown catch sent the Knights into halftime with a 21-0 lead.

Nordlie took control from there, scoring a pair of third-quarter touchdowns on runs of 14 and 23 yards, respectively, before Oestreich's capped the scoring early in the fourth quarter.

Simeon Glende led the defensive effort with six tackles, including one sack. Abel Bain and Christian Koelpin also added sacks in the game. Ben Riegsecker recorded six tackles and one quarterback hurry. Aiden Holien finished with four tackles to go with a 63-yard punt return that set up one of the Knights' first-half scores. 

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

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, November 6, when they travel to Westminster for a game scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.