DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College football team came up short in its conference opener against Buena Vista University, 20-17, on Saturday afternoon inside the Rock Bowl.

The Beavers put themselves on the board first when Matthew Beisswenger made a 20-yard field goal with 9:19 minutes remaining to cap off Buena Vista's (1-2/1-0 American Rivers Conference) opening drive.

The Duhawks responded on the following drive with a field goal of their own from Scott Talmadge, knotting the score up at 3-3.

The visitors added another field goal before the conclusion of the first quarter to hold a 6-3 advantage over the Purple and Gold.

The Beavers extended their lead to 10 (13-3), following a four-play, 36-yard drive that led to a two-yard rushing touchdown for Eman Alaniz. Loras (0-3/0-1 A-R-C) scored its first touchdown of the contest off a nine-yard carry from Carter Cahill to head into the break down a field goal (13-10).

Buena Vista increased its lead back to 10 points with 4:19 left in the third quarter after Zach Herrera connected with Blaine Peebles on a 42-yard pass. The Duhawks responded in the fourth quarter with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Justin Stephens to cut the Beavers lead to just three.

On the following drive, Brandon Phelps sacked Herrera for an eight-yard loss forcing the visitors into a third and long (3^rd and 16) situation. The Duhawks earned the ball back with 2:56 left to play. Loras was unable to put themselves in field goal range on its last drive, giving Buena Vista the ball back with just 15 seconds. The Beavers captured the 20-17 victory by taking a knee on their last snap.

Quarterbacks Garrett Hutchison and Max Golembiewski completed 10 of 27 passing for a combined 167 yards through the air. Cahill controlled the ground game for Loras, rushing for 82 yards in 19 carries. Ian Broshous and Jaheem Haynes totaled five and four receptions respectively for 85 and 68 yards.

Defensively, Michael Carney and Andrew Hefel led the way with seven tackles apiece. Henry Ivers, Cormiac Flynn and Phelps each recorded tackles for loss as well as a sack apiece.

Up Next: The Duhawks travel to Indianola, Iowa for their first conference road test of the season at Simpson College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Buxton Stadium.