Box Score DECORAH, Iowa (Sept. 24, 2022) - Eman Alaniz and Michael Odom each rushed for two touchdowns while Zach Herrera passed for 276 yards and three scores, and the Buena Vista football team held off Luther College, 52-49, on Saturday inside of Carlson Stadium.

Alaniz carried the ball 13 times for a career-high 173 yards, including a season-long scamper of 72 yards with 1:55 left in the third quarter that gave BVU a 32-28 advantage. That was the first lead for the Beavers since it went in front 6-0 within the first three minutes of the game. Odom had a 13-yard touchdown run for the game's first score, and then found the endzone again when he went untouched up the middle for a 32-yard score midway through the fourth quarter. That score put BVU back in front at 45-41.

The Norse struck back late in regulation with an 84-yard touchdown pass with 1:51 left, and then converted a two-point conversion that put them back in front 49-45.

BVU began the ensuing possession at its 35-yard line following a kickoff out-of-bounds, and two plays later Herrera connected over the middle with Jeremiah Powell for a 66-yard touchdown. It was Powell's only catch of the day, but his second score of the afternoon. He took a kickoff and returned it 75 yards to bring BVU back within 28-25 with 5:16 left in the third.

Luther had one final chance in the closing seconds, but Jeremy Woodward picked-off a pass at midfield, and BVU was able to take a couple kneel-downs to run out the clock.

The two teams topped 100 combined points for the second time in the last three meetings. BVU defeated the Norse, 60-40, in Storm Lake back in 2019. Luther finished with 587 yards of total offense while the Beavers chalked up 534, including a season-high 258 on the ground. Herrera completed 15-of-25 attempts for the three scores and no interceptions. He now has seven passing touchdowns on the year.

Dylan Laughlin hauled in three catches for 85 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Beavers a 39-28 cushion. Isaia Morones added three catches for 48 yards.

Vershon Brooks had 103 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help lead the Luther (0-4, 0-2 A-R-C). Beau Cornwell passed for 417 yards and four touchdowns. 

Brandon Lance totaled a team-high 12 tackles to lead the Beavers, defensively, while Nick Moorshead followed with seven. Trey Ortman intercepted his team-leading third pass of the year.

Buena Vista improves to 2-2 on the year (1-1 A-R-C) and will now host the University of Dubuque for Homecoming next Saturday, October 1, at 1:00 p.m.