GALESBURG, Ill. – The Rams scored touchdowns on back-to-back plays in the third quarter Saturday, lifting them to a 31-21 Midwest Conference South Division football win over Knox in the Knosher Bowl.

The Rams (3-5 overall, 1-3 South) broke open a tie game with 17 unanswered points after intermission and spoiled Knox's Homecoming with their 17th consecutive series victory over the Prairie Fire (2-5, 0-3).

Junior receiver Mason Davis (JR/Kansas City, Mo.) accounted for three touchdowns and junior running back Peni Waqairatu (JR/East Melbourne, Australia) netted a career-high 172 all-purpose yards as the Rams snapped a four-game slide with their first division win.   

With the game tied at 14-14 late in the third quarter, momentum quickly shifted in Cornell's favor with one long offensive drive, followed by one huge special teams play.

Davis capped an impressive 11-play, 96-yard drive with a nine-yard TD run that put the Rams ahead 21-14 with 4:19 remaining in the third period. Waqairatu had long pass receptions of 33 and 39 yards on the scoring march.

Knox mishandled the ensuing kickoff and freshman David Knoll (FR/Rosemount, Minn.) pounced on the loose ball in the end zone for a game-changing TD, suddenly giving the Rams a 28-14 advantage. Aaron Nicoll (SR/Longmont, Colo.) booted a 34-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, stretching the margin to 17 points and ultimately putting the game away.

The Rams had control early, scoring the first 14 points of the contest. Davis hauled in a 10-yard pass from Isaac Hahn for the initial TD late in the opening quarter. Two possessions later, Hahn and Davis hooked up on a 47-yard scoring strike with 10:33 to go in the second quarter.

Knox responded with two TDs in the final 3:25 of the first half to tie it going into intermission.

Waqairatu was a workhorse for the Rams, rushing 25 times for 89 yards and catching four passes for 83 yards. Davis earned his first 11 rushing attempts of the season, netting 65 yards. Davis added 57 receiving yards. Hahn finished 11-of-22 passing for 130 yards.

Cornell's defense limited the Prairie Fire to 63 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Safety Demarius Pittman (SO/Denver, Colo.) led the unit with nine tackles, all solo. Alex Rupe (JR/Evergreen, Colo.) recorded seven tackles, including 3.0 for losses and one sack. Easton Jensen (SO/Mesquite, Nev.) had an interception, his second of the season.

The Rams outgained the home team in total yards, 390-342. The Rams converted only 3-of-16 chances on third down, although were 3-for-3 on fourth-down plays.

Coming up – The Rams are idle next weekend. They will host the fourth-place team from the North Division Nov. 16 in a noon kickoff at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.