MORRIS, Minn. - The Martin Luther College football team scored 44 unanswered points en route to a 44-14 win at University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) in Saturday's UMAC opener.

The Cougars scored on their opening drive and then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but it was all MLC from that point.

Nate Golisch intercepted a UMM pass following the onside kick, and Austin DeNoyer ran 60 yards for the score on the fourth play of the Knights' opening possession of the game to cut the deficit to 7-6.

DeNoyer was just getting started with that long run as he followed it with scoring runs of 27 and 71 yards in two of the next three drives. Joshuah Kren got into the act in the second quarter with a 51-yard touchdown reception from Max Nordlie, and Elliott Butler finished the first half scoring with a one-yard score in the final minute of the second quarter to push the MLC lead to 34-7 at the half.

Carson Oestreich continued the Knights' dominance on the ground with a one-yard score to open the third quarter, and Adam Arrowsmith got the defense on the board by forcing an intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety to finish the 44-0 run.

The Knights finished the game with 487 yards rushing on 60 carries. DeNoyer led the way with 218 yards and three scores on only 12 carries, while Nordlie ran for 128 yards on 16 carries in his first career start at quarterback. Nordlie also finished the game 3-7 through the air for 64 yards and one score.

The MLC defense held the Cougars to 296 yards of total offense for the game and forced four turnovers (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries). Golisch and Ben Arndt each intercepted a pass for the Knights, while Ben Riegsecker and Simeon Glende each recovered a fumble.

Jonathan Vandenbosch led the defensive line with 1.5 sacks and two total tackles. Noah Nordlie and Ben Washburn each finished with seven tackles to lead the team. 

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

The Knights will return to action on Friday, April 16, when they travel to Northwestern-St. Paul for a game scheduled to start at 7 p.m.