GRINNELL, Iowa – The University of Chicago football team produced a record-breaking offensive effort on Saturday afternoon in a 78-3 rout of Grinnell College.

The Maroons improved to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the Midwest Conference (MWC). The Pioneers fell to 2-6 overall (2-5 MWC).

A plethora of UChicago game and season records fell at Rosenbloom Field. Six new modern-era (1969-present) offensive records were established:

• 408 points in a season (previous record: 365 in 2018)
• 78 points in a game (previous record: 66 versus Illinois College and Beloit College in 2021)
• 56 touchdowns in a season (previous record: 52 in 2018)
• 11 touchdowns in a game (previous record: 9 on four occasions)
• 713 yards of total offense in a game (previous record: 685 versus Case Western Reserve University in 2002)
• 17 rushing touchdowns in a season by Nicholas D'Ambrose (previous record: 16 by Chandler Carroll in 2017 and Joseph McCoy in 1993)

Things started a bit slowly, as the game was tied 3-3 through one quarter. Grinnell gobbled up 6:36 off the clock on the game's opening drive and finished with a 26-yard field goal. UChicago tied it up on its second drive when sophomore kicker Will Goodman boomed a 42-yard field goal between the uprights.

The second quarter saw an offensive explosion by the visitors. The Maroons scored six touchdowns in a 12-minute span to go up 43-3 at the break. Quick strikes were the name of the game – UChicago scored on either one or two plays on four-straight possessions. All told, the offense racked up 343 yards in the second quarter alone.

The onslaught continued in the third quarter with three-straight rushing touchdowns. The Maroons exclusively ran the ball in the second half with a regiment of running backs that kept up the scorching pace. UChicago scored twice more in the fourth quarter to account for the 78-3 final.

The running game churned out a season-high 454 yards, averaging a whopping 9.9 yards per carry and seven touchdowns. However, the passing game gobbled up large chunks through the air as well. Senior quarterback Philip Martini averaged nearly 26 yards per completion, as he connected on 10 of 15 passes for 259 yards. His four passing touchdowns traveled 50, 66, 60 and seven yards.

Senior running back Nicholas D'Ambrose continued his torrid stretch of play with 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He averaged an eye-popping 13.1 yards per carry. D'Ambrose has tallied 1,415 rushing yards through eight games this season.

Sophomore running back Rhys Bommarito-Logan ran the ball five times for 73 yards and two touchdowns himself, with a staggering 14.6 yards per carry. Senior Matthew Nagler totaled 58 yards and a touchdown, while four other players put up at least 26 rushing yards as well.

Senior Zack Olson paced the receiving corps with four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Caden Kalinowski hauled in a 66-yard touchdown bomb, and senior Elliott Grays broke away for a 60-yard touchdown catch of his own.

Defensively, UChicago dominated the trenches and stifled the Pioneers at every turn. Grinnell was limited to 113 yards of total offense, averaging a mere 1.7 yards per play. The home team went 7 of 21 passing for 62 yards. The running game picked up 51 net yards on 45 attempts.

The Maroon defense concluded with three sacks and seven tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Davis Govrik made his presence felt in the backfield with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks among his seven total tackles. Junior defensive tackle Roman Lewis posted 1.5 tackles for loss and junior linebacker Leo Speidel registered a 13-yard sack.

Sophomore linebacker William Skowronski collected a team-high 13 tackles and fellow sophomore linebacker Aidan Cappellino was credited with 10 tackles.

NEXT GAME:

• Saturday, Nov. 6 @ 1:00 PM – Lawrence University at UChicago