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1888, Bronze Turkey, College Football, College Football Rivalries, Knox College, Midwest Conference, Monmouth College, Monmouth College Fighting Scots, Monmouth Fighting Scots, NCAA, NCAA Division III football, Prairie Fire, Turkey, Turkey Bowl
By Matthew Wheaton, Wheat on the Prairie
GALESBURG — The first meeting between Knox and Monmouth occurred on the gridiron in 1888.
And the 133rd edition of The Turkey Bowl will take place Saturday afternoon, as the Prairie Fire (5-4) will host the Fighting Scots (7-2).
The rivalry is the 13th oldest in college football on every level, and a bronze turkey is awarded to the victor. Monmouth has secured 22 straight wins over Knox.
Aaron Willits, who is in his second season as the Prairie Fire’s coach, is well aware of the history of the contest. He’s a 2008 Knox grad, who took the field as running back, and Willits respects the opposition.
“They’re a good football team. They’re well coached. They execute well. They’re a physical football team,” Willits said of Monmouth. “Those are some of the traits that we’re trying to put into our program. We want to be a structurally sound and an organized football program that plays physical football 100%.
“I’m excited for the challenge, and it’s what’s next on our schedule. It’s what’s left on our schedule,” Willits said. “It’s a great opportunity to go 1-0, and do something that hasn’t been done in a considerable amount of time.”
After serving as the Fighting Scots’ defensive coordinator for 15 seasons, Chad Braun was named Monmouth’s mentor in 2015, and the program has claimed five Midwest Conference crowns in that timespan.
The Fighting Scots have some things to clean up as they prepare for the Prairie Fire.
“We have been playing good football not great football right now,” Braun said. “Giving up too many big plays on defense, and turning the ball over a little bit on offense. We have been very inconsistent on special teams.
“We are focusing on being a consistent football team. We play great for stretches and bad for stretches — need to be more consistent across the board,” Braun added. “Knox has played really good football down the stretch. They are executing at a very high level on both sides of the ball.”
Willits likes the progress he’s seen from his student-athletes as the season has progressed.
“I feel like we’re in a good spot heading into our last game. We battled some injuries in the middle of the year, and we feel like we’re back to as healthy as we can be at this point,” Willits said. “I feel like our execution has gotten consistently better as the year has gone on, and I think that really showed last week against Cornell.
“Our best versions of ourselves we’re taking into Week 10, which I think anyone in the country would love to say regardless of the opponent.”
What happened last week?
Last Saturday afternoon, Monmouth edged Ripon 39-31 in a home contest at April Zorn Memorial Stadium, and Knox defeated Cornell 31-27 at Ash Park in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
It was the Prairie Fire’s fifth win this season, and Knox’s first victory over the Rams since 1988. The Prairie Fire are now guaranteed to wrap things up with the most wins the program has garnered since 2017 and most MWC wins since 2002.
“Getting to No. 5 was a big step for our program. It’s something that has evaded us for a long time in this program,” Willits said. “We hadn’t won against Cornell since ’88, and that’s something pretty special that our guys have done.
“We put together a great team effort. We were holding each other up and cheering each other on,” Willits added. “I was very proud of our guys going out and getting win No. 5.”
Knox by the numbers
Knox’s Kaile Williams has completed 49 of 98 passes for 635 yards and four touchdowns. The senior has been picked off six times, and Williams has 124 rushes for 612 yards and 14 touchdowns in eight games.
“Kaile is a heck of player,” Braun said. “Leading rusher on the team, and can hurt you multiple ways with his feet and his arm.”
Junior Hunter Anderson has 71 carries for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and he has eight grabs for 120 yards and has 33-yard TD catch for the Prairie Fire. Junior Sam Walker has 87 rushes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, fifth-year senior Trevor Geggie has 38 carries for 152 yards and a TD, and senior Jason Clark has 21 scampers for 91 yards and two TDs for Knox.
Sophomore backup quarterback AJ Vasquez has completed 8 of 26 passes for 85 yards. He’s had three passes intercepted, and Vasquez also has 20 rushes for 76 yards and a TD in five games for the Prairie Fire.
Junior wideout Tyler Elfering has 15 catches for 243 yards and a touchdown in seven games of action, and junior wide receiver Tyrell Pierce has 14 grabs for 150 yards and two touchdowns for Knox in nine games.
Senior kicker Preston Lade has made four field goals and 22 of 25 extra point kicks for the Prairie Fire.
Monmouth by the numbers
Nine different players have combined for the 28 rushing touchdowns Monmouth has tallied in 2022.
Fifth-year senior Devin Lawrence leads the way with 95 carries for 476 yards and 10 TDs, and junior Devin Pinkard has 40 scampers for 91 yards and four TDs. Alex Egipciaco, who is a 2022 Galesburg High School grad, junior Marcus Albers, sophomore McKade Brooks, senior offensive lineman Matthew Shimko and freshman Jeremiah Austin have all broken the plane once this season.
Senior Carter Boyer has 28 rushes for 215 yards and six touchdowns. The quarterback, who has been picked off eight times, has also completed 115 of 186 passes for 1,627 yards and 16 TDs for the Fighting Scots.
Senior quarterback Riley Fetterer has 30 rushes for 159 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Fetterer, who has been picked off twice, has completed 54 of 80 passes for 620 yards and three touchdowns for Monmouth.
Junior Nate Thornton has 49 receptions for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns. Fifth-year senior Jake Uryasz has 36 grabs for 518 yards and a trio of touchdowns for the Fighting Scots. Junior Brendan Bishop (20 catches for 252 yards), and sophomore Jackson Bergen (18 grabs for 176 yards) have a pair of receiving TDs apiece. Senior Dylan Bone has five receptions for 84 yards and a TD for Monmouth.
Sophomore kicker Cody Szelc has nailed six field goals and made 40 of 45 extra point kicks for the Fighting Scots.
Saturday’s expected starters
KNOX
Offense
Quarterback: Kaile Williams
Left tackle: Andrew Winkler
Left guard: Creed Justice
Center: Julian Huggins
Right guard: Jacob Lesus
Right tackle: Charlie Gibbons
Running back: Hunter Anderson
Running back: Trevor Geggie
Running back: Sam Walker
Wideout: Tyrell Pierce
Wideout: Niko Powe
Defense
End: TJ Nehls
Tackle: Jacob Etienne
Nose: Lucas Cruz
End: Jon Sarich
Linebacker: Davis Brumbaugh
Linebacker: Ean Rau
Safety: Anthony Garcia
Safety: Kendall Ballman
Safety: Cade Cosson
Corner: Liam Gallagher
Corner: Isaac Mora
Specials
Snapper: Kailob Haag
Holder: Ean Rau
Kicker/punter: Preston Lade
MONMOUTH
Offense
Quarterback: Carter Boyer
Left tackle: Colby McMillan
Left guard: TJ Schroeder
Center: Derek Brown
Right guard: Matt Shmiko
Right tackle: James Conner
Halfback: Dylan Bone
Tailback: Devin Lawrence
Wideout: Nathan Thornton
Wideout: Nick Obsaint
Wideout: Jake Uryasz
Defense
Nose: Brant Baltes
End: Korbyn Personett
End: Brent Sencere
Nickel: Tevin Baker
Will: Tanner Tomaschke
Sam: Calen Endicott
Mike: Jeremaih Glen-Louis Charles
Safety: Nick Harris
Safety: Michael Lord
Corner: Hayden Eugene
Corner: Jaylan Peeler
Specials
Snapper: David Richardson
Holder: Brendon Bishop
Kicker: Cody Szelc
Punter: Addison Fletcher
Departing thought…
“It is a really special game. We have great respect for our opponent,” Braun said. “Coach Willits has done a tremendous job since taking over the Knox program.
“It is a really exciting game for both teams.”
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