ST. PAUL, Minn. — Junior running back Ben Wartman scored four TDs and the Tommies outscored Gustavus 24-0 in the second half of Saturday's 45-12 St. Thomas victory in MIAC football action at UST's O'Shaughnessy Stadium.

The 15th-ranked Tommies (4-0 overall, 3-0 MIAC) ran their winning streak to six and remained in a share of the conference lead with unbeaten St. John's. 

The Toms rolled up 27 first downs and outgained Gustavus (1-3, 1-2) in total offense, 496-248 yards.

UST came close to matching its 48-point scoring average on the season. Coach Glenn Caruso's Tommies now have 27 touchdowns through four games, including Wartman's 12 touchdowns.

Wartman rushed 19 times for 107 yards -- his 11th 100-yard rushing performance in his last 12 games. He had scoring runs of 9, 4 and 18 yards and caught a 25-yard TD pass from Greg Morse.

Morse also threw a 48-yard TD pass to Fritz Waldvogel, who finished with six catches for 93 yards.

Gustavus' Brad Kruckeberg picked off two passes. Cameron Maurer scored the Gusties' lone TD on a 58-yard pass from Jordan Becker and caught four passes for 124 yards. Tom Huepenbecker kicked field goals of 44 and 24 yards for Gustavus.

Kris Kopp and Kirk Baglien had interceptions for the Tommies. Baglien's pickoff and 30-yard return on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter set up the Tommie at the GAC 36-yard line. Four plays later Wartman caught a pass wide open in the middle of the field to extend the lead to 16 points.

The Tommies are home next week to face Concordia-Moorhead, which had a bye today. Gustavus is home to play Pacific Lutheran.

Click here to access box score:

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/stats/3-3-fb.htm


Press release submitted by St. Thomas on Oct 03, 2009 at 05:37 PM Eastern