GALESBURG, Illinois - The Prairie Fire football team picked up a 31-14 win over Beloit in their home opener on Saturday afternoon.
Knox marched down the field on the opening drive of the game, capping it off with a 24-yard field goal from Chris McMillan to take an early 3-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Hunter Anderson scored on a five yard run to complete an 11-play, 94 yard drive. McMillan converted the extra point.
The Prairie Fire followed that with a 71 yard touchdown pass from Kaile Williams to NikoPowe. McMillan again made the extra point to put Knox up 17-0 with 1:25 left in the first half.
The Buccaneers got on the board with a touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the first half to send the game into halftime with the Prairie Fire holding a 17-7 advantage.
Beloit scored again midway through the third quarter to bring the game within three points.
Williams led Knox on a 10-play, 75 yard drive and ran it in himself from two yards out to give the Prairie Fire some cushion.
Davis Brumbaugh then sealed the game when he picked off a Beloit pass and ran it back 15 yards for a touchdown.
Williams finished the game with 117 yards passing with a touchdown and 111 rushing yards and a score. Anderson racked up 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. Powe hauled in four catches for 100 yards and a score.
Brumbaugh led the Knox defense with 11 tackles, three pass break ups, and the pick six. Jonathan Sarich added 10 tackles, including 2.5 sacks. TJ Nehls and Jacob Etienne each tallied 1.5 sacks.
"Always great to leave Saturday with a win," said head coach Aaron Willits. "Very excited about how we fought for 60 minutes. Looking to get back to work to be the best version of ourselves."
The Prairie Fire will return to action on September 16 as they travel to the University of Chicago.