With a 27-20 victory over Knox College last Saturday, the football team got the chance to ring the bell for the first time in over a year. No, not that bell—the other bell, the bell the team rings when it wins.

“I think our defense really stepped up to the challenge this game,” Nate Vernon ’07 said. “In the past few games they have been just a half step from being in the right place at the right time, but this game it really just clicked.”

The Prairie Fire looked good on offense overall, controlling the time of possession and out-gaining the Scots in total yards, 400-276. However, Knox only completed one of four 4th down attempts. Macalester finished with four interceptions on the day, two by Burns, and one each by Jeremy Velasquez ’08 and Jared Collingwood ’08.

The Mac defense forced Knox to go 3 and out with 7:28 left in the game. Knox went to punt, but a strong rush by Macalester forced the punter to hurry the kick, and the punt went only 5 yards. Mac took over on their own 41 and 7 minutes later had won the game.

Macalester got ahead for good 11:47 into the 4th quarter on a TD run by Vernon, ending a drive that spanned 4 minutes and 41 yards. Facing 3rd and 6 three plays before, Macalester quarterback Adam Denny ’05 completed an 8-yard pass over the middle to receiver Jared Hillman ’06.

Knox got the ball with 3 minutes to play. It began to drive, reaching its own 47 yard line with 1:21 to go. On 3rd and 4 Knox went for a big play, as the quarterback lofted one high on the right side. But Macalester’s standout cornerback Tim Burns ’06 was there, picking up his second interception of the day and assuring a Mac victory.

The score was close most of the game, as each side managed 14 points in the 1st quarter. Vernon led the Mac attack, scoring two touchdowns, picking up 122 yards on the ground, and adding another 64 in the air. Denny went 10-17 for 171 yards and two scores. On the defensive side, Burns made 16 tackles, Dan Haley ’07 made 15, and Peter Christensen had 8.

“Everyone came together and played their hardest,” Vernon said, “and that’s what we need with such a small but talented team.”