Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
Junior Will Toonen had return touchdowns of two and 42 yards and Josh Parks rushed 10 times for 100 yards in less than two quarters as No. 3-ranked St. Thomas (2-0 overall, 1-0 MIAC) opened MIAC football play with Saturday night's 62-0 win over Hamline (0-3, 0-1) at Palmer Field in O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
St. Thomas, which had no turnovers, celebrated the 1,000th varsity game in program history and broke a record with its 29th consecutive victory over MIAC opponents dating back to October 2014. The includes 28 MIAC regular-season games and one NCAA playoff victory over St. John's.
The Tommie defense held Hamline to minus-15 net yards on 44 plays with just two first downs (one by penalty), and forced 11 punts. UST had three takeaways, 19 tackles for loss and limited the Pipers to 1-for-13 on third-down conversions.
Sophomore cornerback Sam Gerrety had a 29-yard interception return TD and Nick Robinson recovered a Piper fumble in the end zone. Toonen had a two-yard return for a score after a blocked punt recovery in the first quarter, then scored a 42-yard punt return to the end zone in the final period.
Both teams played their backup and No. 3 quarterbacks in the third and fourth quarters.
Notes
Six of St. Thomas' 20 touchdowns in two games this season have come from special teams or defense. Its defense has allowed minus-81 yeards net rushing on 47 attempts after 11 sacks and 22 other tackles for loss are factored in.
Eight Tommies scored touchdowns on Saturday, and three kickers had at least one PAT made. Thirteen Tommies have scored touchdowns in their two wins in 2018.
Saturday's four return or recovery TDs make it 54 in 11 seasons under Glenn Caruso.
Seven Tommie defenders had a sack, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble or an interception against the Pipers.