Auburn Jimenez (Fy., East Los Angeles, Calif. / St. John Bosco) cleared the uprights with a 43-yard game-winning field goal with just :03 left in regulation as Macalester won a 44-41 thriller for its third victory in a row. With their first three-game winning streak since 2002, the Scots move up to 3-1 on the season.
Macalester broke a 34-34 deadlock with 1:23 left in the game with a quick seven-play drive to go up 41-34. However, the Purple Storm (now 3-1), went 62 yards on eight plays in less than a minute to tie things up again at 41-41.
Just when overtime appeared a sure thing, the Scots got good field position on the kickoff. A 10-yard completion was followed by a 31-yard catch and run down the sideline by Jon Elliott (Sr., El Paso, Tex. / Andress), and on the third play of the series and with only :03 to play, Jimenez booted the winning field goal.
The Scots piled up 507 total yards in offense, including 193 gained on the ground by T. Joe Loiselle (Jr., Chippewa Falls, Wis.). Loiselle ran for two scores and Mike Snavely (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest) caught two of Clark Bledsoe's (So., Jacksonville, Fla. / Episcopal) three touchdown passes. Macalester's offensive line played its fourth game in a row without allowing a sack.
Mac's defense broke up six passes and had an interception against the No. 11-ranked scoring team in the NCAA Division III. Reid Callahan (Fy., Atlanta, Ga. / St. Pius X), who had the interception, and Zach Englert (So., Salt Lake City, Utah / Skyline), each registered 13 tackles. Nate Sands (Jr., Madison, Wis. / East) added 10 tackles and was in on one of the first two QB sacks allowed by Crown this year.
Macalester held Crown to a 3-for-11 third down conversion rate.
The two teams piled up a combined 953 yards in offense and 51 first downs on the night. Mac and Crown combined to score touchdowns on all eight red zone chances.
Crown quarterback Adam Hayes was 27-for-39 for 308 yards and four touchdowns. Three Crown receivers caught eight passes each for a total of 282 yards.
Macalester takes the trip north up Snelling Ave. to play Hamline for the Paint Bucket Trophy on Saturday (Oct. 2) at 1 p.m., resuming one of the oldest small college rivalries in the Midwest. The Scots and Pipers are meeting for the 111th on the football field.