WHITING, Ind. -- Bellarmine sprint football concluded their three-game road stretch with a 24-18 overtime loss to the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph.  With the loss, the Knights drop to 3-1 on the season.

The Knights were given good field position right out of the starting gate, taking possession at their own 49.  Kyle Horvath hit on passes of 32 and 11 yards to Shannon Tonge and Derrik Gant, respectively, before throwing an interception in the end zone.  On the ensuing Crimson Wave possession, a CCSJ fumble on a bad snap found its way into the end zone where it was recovered by the Crimson Wave for a Bellarmine safety.  

After the early fireworks, the game turned into a defensive slugfest.  Neither team was able to sustain a drive for the remainder of the quarter, so the Knights' defense took matters into their own hands, as Royce Hall recovered a fumble at the CCSJ 25 and on the very next play, Horvath hit Morgan Capps for a touchdown to make it 8-0 at the end of the first quarter following a missed PAT.

The next two Crimson Wave possessions would also result in turnovers as Hall recovered a second fumble and Lance Weiter came up with an interception. The Knights' offense was unable to capitalize on their opportunities however, punting once, and then turning it over themselves, as Horvath was strip sacked at midfield.  Following the turnover, the Knights' defense came up with a tackle for loss and a sack to force a 3rd and 16, but CCSJ scored on a 56-yard touchdown pass to make it 8-7.

Bellarmine responded immediately, as Horvath hit Gant for a 68 yard catch-and-run to up the lead back to 15-7.  Once again, neither team was able to get much going on offense for the rest of the quarter.  Carter Schroer came up with a strip and a recovery late in the period, but the Bellarmine offense would again fail to take advantage, turning it over on downs in the waning seconds of the half.

The Bellarmine defense was able to force a three-and-out to begin the third quarter thanks in large part to a sack by Allan Ho.  Aided by a defensive chop block penalty, the Knights drove it into field goal range, where Furio Burac nailed a 44 yard field goal to make it 18-7, a lead Bellarmine took into the fourth quarter as the defensive standoff continued throughout the quarter.

The Crimson Wave found their offensive rhythm early in the fourth quarter and were able to cut into Bellarmine's lead, as a touchdown pass was followed by a two-point conversion to make it 18-15.  On their ensuing drive, Kendrick Jackson took a reverse down to the CCSJ 35 yard line, but the drive would end in a turnover on downs.  The Knights' defense stood tall again, forcing a subsequent four-and-out on the next possession, but the offensive was unable to close out, as following an exchange of punts, a Crimson Wave catch and run took the ball to the Bellarmine 30, and a horse collar tackle penalty advanced it to the 15.  Following a negative rushing play and a sack by Hall and Roy Shrout, CCSJ kicked the game-tying field goal with 33 seconds left.  

The Knights had a chance to win it on their final possession in regulation, as a Horvath pass was deflected into the hands of Jackson, who broke free for a 33-yard catch and run to the Crimson Wave 48.  Horvath then hit on a 10-yard pass to Tyler Smith and a 13-yard pass to Tonge to give Burac a 42-yard game winning field goal attempt.  However, the attempt fell short, and the game headed to overtime.

The Knights won the overtime toss and elected to go on defense first.  On the first play of overtime, CCSJ took it 19 yards to the Bellarmine six, and four plays later, they were able to pound it in for the touchdown.  Caleb Murray came in and blocked the extra point attempt to keep it 24-18 as Bellarmine took possession.  However, the Knights were unable to get the equalizer, as Horvath's fourth down pass to Gant was batted down.

Horvath finished 17-of-38 for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.  The Knights were stifled in the run game for most of the evening, as the team totaled just 72 net rushing yards.  Brenden Reid was limited to 44 yards on 21 attempts.  Gant gained 17 yards on five attempts, but led the Knights through the air with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.  Tonge had five catches for 64 yards and Tyler Smith had five catches for 47 yards.

The Knights will look to bounce back at home, as they take on the Pomeroys of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College at Brother Thomas More Stadium on the campus of St. Xavier High School next Saturday at 1 PM ET.