GALESBURG, Ill. – University of Chicago football remained undefeated after rolling Knox College on the road 50-14 on Saturday. The Maroon offense has now put up progressively higher point totals each week of the season, while the defense has not allowed more than two scores all year.

Coming off its bye week, UChicago now holds a 4-0 record overall and a 3-0 mark in the Midwest Conference. The Prairie Fire fell to 1-3 overall (0-3 MWC).

Senior quarterback Wesley Gow remained a threat as a ball carrier, finishing off UChicago's methodical opening drive with a one-yard read-option run for a score. The Maroons set up the play nicely, making several outside runs to the right on the previous plays. Knox's defense bit on a fake handoff to that side, while Gow kept the ball himself and went left to get the scoring started. Gow led the team in rushing yards with 76 on 11 attempts, including a long pickup of 20 yards.

After Knox scored on a 12-play, 87-yard drive, UChicago responded by taking another trip to the goal line. Out of a heavy backfield set, senior running back Nicholas D'Ambrose dove up the middle for the score, unfazed by the stacked box of the Knox defense. With that touchdown, D'Ambrose set a new school record for career rushing touchdowns with 38. The previous record was held by Chandler Carroll (2014-17).

On the next Knox possession, Braedon Junker stepped up and cemented the momentum that the Maroons wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the game. Under pressure from UChicago's vigorous pass rush, the Prairie Fire quarterback floated a pass down the sideline, which Junker plucked for an interception at the eight-yard line. The senior safety currently leads the team with three picks.

The excellent field position allowed UChicago to take a more comfortable lead at 21-7. D'Ambrose picked up his second rushing score of the game, charging forward and punishing potential tacklers to get to the goal line and then the end zone. Senior running back Greg Asare then tacked on a two-point conversion. The offensive linemen once again stood out for their physical play throughout, paving the way for 232 total rushing yards (5.8 yards per carry) and only one sack allowed the whole game.

The next Prairie Fire drive was similarly upended by the visitors with a quick interception. Senior linebacker Chris Murphy initiated the big play, speeding off the edge to hit the quarterback as he threw. Junior defensive end Kourosh Hassibi snatched the errant pass on the 20-yard line. On the very next play, Gow found sophomore wideout Diego Solis over the middle for the touchdown. Gow would go on to finish with a passing line of 16-for-26, 224 yards and four touchdowns.

Midway through the second quarter and throwing on the run, Gow found sophomore running back Marcelo Alanis in the flat for a 10-yard touchdown – his first score of the year. Junior kicker Will Goodman also tacked on a field goal in the closing seconds of the half with a 28-yard boot. The Maroons went into the break with a definitive 36-7 lead.

From there, UChicago slowed its scoring onslaught to once per quarter, both coming on 11-yard receptions by senior wide receiver Michael Janis on post routes. Janis finished with three catches for 41 yards. He also added a 30-yard punt return. First-year Luke Degner paced the receiving corps with 57 yards on three receptions.

D'Ambrose toted the ball 11 times for 56 yards, and Asare added 48 yards on nine carries. UChicago only punted once on the day and went 4-for-4 on fourth down. The Maroons concluded with 456 yards of total offense (6.8 yards per play).

UChicago's defense turned in another fine statistical effort, due in large part to a fierce front seven. The Maroons allowed only 2.9 yards per rush against the triple-option attack and held Knox to 128 yards through the air. The unit totaled five tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery. Junior linebackers Aidan Cappellino and William Skowronski collected eight tackles and one tackle for loss each.

NEXT GAME:

• Saturday, Oct. 8 @ 1:00 PM – Monmouth College at UChicago