Notables
-Jinkins with a punt return TD and an interception return TD on the day
-Saints had the ball less than 20 minutes
-CSS has averaged at least eight yards per play in each of the last two weeks
-Crown either had a turnover or a kick blocked on five straight possessions between the second and third quarters
-CSS extends UMAC winning streak to 33 games and home winning streak to 18 games
Who Needs Offense
St. Scholastica ran just four plays of offense in the first quarter, but still led 14-0 when the second quarter began.
Crown took its opening possession down the field, but on a third down play inside the CSS 25-yard-line, Jonathan Senger picked off an ill-advised pass and the Saints took over. However, CSS went three-and-out on its first possession.
The Storm were forced to punt on their next possession just inside St. Scholastica territory, but the snap would be off target and Crown was forced to fall on it all the way down at its own 17-yard-line. On the very next play, Kyle Stepka found Aaron Olson for a 17-yard touchdown. The extra point by Donovan Blatz made it 7-0 St. Scholastica.
On Crown's next punt on the ensuing possession, Kenneth Jinkins received the ball at his own 40-yard-line and took it to the house for 60-yard touchdown return to make it 14-0 after a quarter of action.
Turnovers Leading to Points
With the score still 14-0 with three remaining in the first half and Crown inside the CSS 25-yard-line again, Jinkins recorded an interception and returned it 29 yards to the St. Scholastica 42-yard-line. The Saints proceeded to take it down the field and punch it in on a Teddy Gildersleeve 6-yard TD run to make the halftime score 21-0.
Jake Zoellick forced a Crown fumble on the Storm's first possession of the second half, which was recovered by August Marleau. On the very next play, Stepka found Hunter Thompson for a 38-yard touchdown to extend the margin to 28-0.
On Crown's next possession, Jinkins stepped in front of a Storm pass for his second interception of the game and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown to make it 35-0.
After Stepka connected with Olson for the second time on the afternoon, a 37-yard TD on a third-and-28 play to make it 42-0 with five minutes to go in the third quarter, CSS got its final touchdown after muffed punt by the Storm set up a short field for the Saints in the fourth quarter. Ben Buthe scored two plays later on a 15-yard scamper.
Crown scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the final quarter to make the final 49-13.
Key Team Stats
Total Yards: CSS 358, Crown 290
Total Plays: Crown 86, CSS 43
Time of Possession: Crown 40:53, CSS 19:07
Red Zone: CSS 4-4, Crown 1-3
Penalties: CSS 11-70, Crown 4-26
Top Performances for CSS
Jinkins returned a punt for a touchdown, an interception for a touchdown and also recorded seven tackles. Marleau led the defense with 12 tackles, while Jon. Senger and Quinton McGregor added nine stops. Jason Senger made seven tackles, recorded an interception and also blocked a Crown field goal attempt at the end of the first half.
Offensively, Stepka was 13-of-19 for 204 yards passing and three touchdowns. Olson had four receptions for 65 yards and two scores. TJ Williams had two receptions for 54 yards. Blatz was 7-for-7 on his extra point attempts.
Top Performances for the Opponents
For the second straight week, the Saints defense forced their opponents to go to their backup quarterback. The starter Taylor Watkins threw for 67 yards, while back-up Ryan Synoground threw for 45 yards. Thomas Andrews had five receptions for 46 yards. Running back Josh Edlund had 123 yards on the ground on 22 carries and a touchdown.
Parker Cramer, Jake Nohr and Tyler Bird all had five tackles to pace the Storm defense.
Up Next
The Saints (3-1, 3-0 UMAC) will be back on the road next Saturday when they face Martin Luther College in New Ulm for a 2 p.m. kickoff.