De PERE, Wis. – The Carthage College football team opened the 2015 season on the losing end of a 35-6 result against St. Norbert College at SNC's Donald J. Schneider Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
The Red Men (0-1) were plagued by turnovers all afternoon as quarterbacks Nick Anzelmo and Bobby Suchecki each accounted for two interceptions and the Red Men fumbled the ball away two more times.
 
"This game is about consistency and we didn't have it on either side of the ball or on special teams today," said Carthage head football coach Mike Yeager of today inconsistent play.  "We had some good play on defense but we gave up way to many big plays.  You cannot give up big plays on defense, which we did today.  On offense we moved the ball fine.  But that doesn't matter if you are going to turn the ball over.  But like you said, six turnovers is atrocious."
 
St. Norbert (1-0) opened the scoring in the first quarter marching the ball 65 yards on eight plays.  St. Norbert quarterback Jack Becker found Brad Boockmeier on a screen in the flat and was able to avoid the Carthage tacklers for a 30 yard touchdown reception.
 
On Carthage's next two ensuing possessions, quarterback Nick Anzelmo would lead the Red Men into scoring position before an interception and a botched field goal would turn the Red Men away with nothing to show for the drives.
 
"It's about execution.  We did not execute today and that's on us as coaches and we have to get that fixed," noted Yeager.  "We have to make sure our guys know what the heck they are doing, and doing it well, and making the plays when they present themselves."
 
St. Norbert would add two more long touchdowns in the second quarter on a 57 yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-one, and a 66 yard run from Elijah Fort to give the Green Knights a 20-0 halftime lead.  
 
"If we didn't give up those three big plays we probably feel pretty good as a defense today.  But we did," said Mike Yeager on the defense allowing St.. Norbert to score on three long plays.  "So when you do, you give up three easy touchdowns and that's 20 points.  All three of those situations should have been where we were getting the ball back either that play or the play after that.  So we cannot allow that.  Big plays and missed tackles will kill a defense and most of those occur because of missed tackles or missed assignments and that is what happened today"
 
After a field goal for the Green Knights, The Red Men scored their first points of the season as Bobby Suchecki put together a drive that ended with running back Tristan Peterson going up the middle for a three yard touchdown run to cut the score to 23-6.
 
However, St. Norbert would come storming back with two more touchdowns including an 84-yard pick-six to closeout the scoring for a final of 35-6.
 
Carthage's Tristan Peterson ran for a team-high 69 yards on 11 carriers and scored the only touchdown of the day for the Red Men.  On the afternoon Carthage ran for 140 yards after being help to just 15 yards a year ago in the opener against St. Norbert.
 
"The run game wasn't the issue.  We ran the ball fine," said Mike Yeager of the running attack Saturday.  "It was just in the passing game, there were obviously a lot of interceptions and a lot of dropped balls and you can't have that, it will cost you.   It's going to cost you conversions on third down and it's going to cost you points in the red zone."
 
James Cobbs III finished the season opener with game-highs in receptions and receiving yards, catching eight balls for 82 yards. 
 
Quarterbacks, Nick Anzelmo, Bobby Suchecki and Ethan Olles combined for 246 yards through the air, each contributing 82 yards.
 
Maybe the brightest spot of the day was the kickoff return game, where the Red Men returned four kicks for 140 yards including a game-high 52-yard return by Ryan Dalton.
 
"Our returners did okay.  We punted the ball okay as well.  The only issue we had on special team, I believe, was a muffed snap.  I don't know exactly if it was a poor snap or just a drop by the holder… But that should be the expectation around here that we can make some plays on special teams," said Yeager.
 
Carthage returns to action next Saturday, September 12th when the Red Men return home to face Olivet College in Carthage's home opener at Art Keller Field.
 
Looking ahead to Olivet next week Yeager stated, "They are a very good football team.  They went 6-4 last year and had some good wins in the Michigan league.  It will be a tough, tough fooball game for us.  So we have our hands full and we have to start with a great day tomorrow."