DUBUQUE, Iowa – A high-scoring Loras offense scored first and often en route to a 44-29 victory over Luther College on Saturday afternoon inside the Rock Bowl.

Quarterback Evan England had arguably his best game this season, throwing for 195 yards and four touchdowns, all while adding an additional 29 yards and a score on the ground. The junior out of Wheaton, Ill., found one of his favorite targets, wide receiver 'Mani Brown, nine times for 108 yards and three touchdowns, maching Brown's single-game career-high. 

Running back Johnnie Cason II rushed for a career-high 112 yards on 19 carries, while fellow running mate Jamel Britt pitched in 57 yards and a score.

Defensively, Josh Rydberg recorded his second 10-plus tackle game of the young season, as the grad student recorded 12 tackles (nine solo) and was instrumental in helping limit the Norse's offense to 208 total yards. Dawson Charley and Rashaad Johnson each picked up interceptions, while Brandon Phelps (1), Elijah Dertz (0.5), and Charley (0.5) each were in on sacks. Mike Barber III led the secondary with three pass breakups, followed by Rydberg (2), Brett Bower (1), Michael Mixan (1), Johnson (1), and Dertz (1).

Loras (2-1 overall, 1-0 A-R-C) scored just over midway through the first quarter after England found Brown for 34 yards out to put the Duhawks up, 7-0. Loras added to that lead at the 10:01 mark in the second quarter when England rushed for a touchdown from one yard out.

The Norse (0-2, 0-1) got on the board with 2:35 to play in the half after Aiden Damiani scored from a yard out, before evening things up just before halftime after quarterback Beau Cornwell found wideout Tommy Kaktis from six yardsout with 15 seconds to play.  

Loras broke the tie with 8:16 to go in the third quarter when Britt scored on a two-yard scamper. The Duhawks padded their lead a couple drives later after Brown and England hooked up for their second score of the day.
Heading into the fourth, Luther embarked on a 15-play, 68-yard drive capped off by a Cornwall touchdown pass to Blarke Storby in the back of the end zone to bring things within seven. Loras responded with a 22-yard field goal from kicker Scott Talmadge to go up 10 (31-21) with 9:46 to play.

The Duhawks added on to their lead when Brown and England completed their trifecta of touchdowns, this time from 19-yards out to go up 37-21, adding only six points to their total due to a blocked extra point. Luther responded with a 33-yard pitch and catch score between Cornwall and Kaktis, coupled with a successful two-point conversion, to go down eight, but a touchdown pass from England to Jaheem Haynes with 2:47 left on the clock put things out of reach and secured the first American Rivers Conference win of the season for the Duhawks.

Up Next
Loras will head down the road to face the University of Dubuque next weekend in the annual Key City Clash. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Chalmers Field.