Notables
-Thompson becomes third Saint ever to record 20 career touchdown receptions
-Football program's 100th game
-Largest margin victory of the season for CSS (35 points)
-CSS was 5-for-6 on fourth down
-CSS has outscored league opponents 128-16 in the first half this season
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica football team played its 100th game on Saturday against Martin Luther College at Public Schools Stadium, where it came away with its largest margin victory of the season, winning 56-21.
First Half
The Saints recorded six touchdowns in the first two quarters. The first one came on the Saints' first drive on a pass from Zach Edwards to Hunter Thompson for a 22 yard completion. This was Thompson's seventh TD reception of the season, and his 20th career touchdown, making him the third Saint in program history to record 20 career touchdowns. Donovan Blatz put the extra point kick through the uprights to make the score 7-0.
The Saints managed their next score after Jake Zoellick recovered a fumble from MLC with five minutes left in the quarter. This put CSS in good position at Martin Luther's 17 yard line, and the Saints had the ball in the end zone in five plays. The touchdown came on a rush from Ben Buthe, and Blatz recorded the extra point.
CSS had time for one more score in the first, thanks to another fumble recovery, this time picked up by Blatz. A 30 yard pass completion to Thompson put the Saints within 10 yards of the goal line, and Jeff LeMay, coming off a big game last week, rushed for a TD. Blatz, with the successful kick, made the score 21-0 headed into the second quarter.
Another touchdown completion to Thompson, this time for 37 yards, made the score 28-0 in favor of the Saints after just two minutes had passed in the second quarter. Martin Luther went three-and-out on their next possession. Edwards completed a pass to Reese Jansen for a 53 yard touchdown, his first career TD, and a successful kick from Blatz made the score 35-0. The Saints weren't done yet, and with three minutes left in the half, they went on another successful drive ending in a rush from Buthe for a touchdown to put the Saints up 42-0 to end the half.
Second Half
The third quarter saw much less action than the first or second. Martin Luther finally got points on the board with a touchdown of their own, and it was the only scoring play of the quarter. The final four touchdowns of the game came in quick succession, all happening in the last five minutes. Martin Luther recorded another touchdown on a 31 yard rush to put the score at 42-14. Jack Peru followed up immediately by returning the kickoff for a 77 yard touchdown, extending their lead to 49-14.
Martin Luther wouldn't give up, and on a 60 yard pass completion to Josh Arndt, the Knights scored yet again to put the score at 49-21. For the final score of the game, Corey Jobe, in his first collegiate game, rushed for a touchdown to give the game its final score of 56-21.
Notable Performances
For the Saints, Edwards threw for 242 yards on 26 attempts, with three touchdowns. Buthe led the rushing attack with 57 yards and tow touchdowns. Peru had a good game too with 56 yards on 15 carries. Thompson had four receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Zoellick had one fumble recovery and a sack. Cal Germain had a sack as well, and Frank Cerar forced the fumble for CSS. Jonathan Senger recorded a team-high 12 tackles.
For the Knights, Ian Paulsen threw for 146 yards on 15 attempts. Elliot Butler led in rushing yards with 89 on 10 carries with a touchdown. Josh Arndt had two receptions for 85 yards and a TD.
Up Next
The Saints (6-1, 6-0 UMAC) head to St. Bonifacius next Saturday to take on Crown College where they will look for a victory to remain undefeated in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.