NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College football team scored touchdowns on its first six offensive possessions to take a 41-0 halftime lead and proceeded to claim a 41-6 victory over Hamline University on Homecoming and Family Weekend on Saturday afternoon at Klein Field at Manitou.
In front of a crowd of over 1,200, St. Olaf (4-0, 2-0 MIAC) continued its unbeaten start to the season by racking up 370 yards of offensive in the opening half against Hamline (2-2, 0-2 MIAC) to top the Pipers for the sixth time in a row. The Oles' defense held the Pipers scoreless until early in the fourth quarter, as St. Olaf kept Hamline to fewer than 10 points for the fourth time in the last six meetings.
Senior Theo Doran played a part in five of St. Olaf's six touchdowns in the opening half before exiting the game early in the third quarter. Doran was 15-for-21 for 257 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while also running for 24 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Junior Gus Gartzke registered his second consecutive 100-yard game by carrying the ball 21 times for 106 yards and a score, as the Oles rushed for a season-high 209 yards in the win.
Doran's touchdown passes went to seniors Devin McNearny and Jobe Monroe in the opening half. In a game where eight Oles caught at least one pass, senior Evan Hammonds led the team with four receptions for 59 yards.
First year Josh Kerber and junior Alijah Cruel tied for the team lead with six tackles for St. Olaf. Kerber added the first interception of his college career and Cruel blocked the extra point on Hamline's lone touchdown of the game. Junior Noah Barrett registered a sack for the fourth game in a row and brought his total to 10.5 tackles for a loss in four games this season. Barrett also recovered a fumble for the Oles.
After getting a three-and-out from its defense to start the game, St. Olaf went 58 yards in 10 plays on its opening possession to get out to an early lead. With the Oles facing a third-and-one, Doran powered in from four yards out for his first of three rushing touchdowns in the victory. St. Olaf's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
On the Pipers' next possession, Barrett pounced on a fumble to get the ball back for the St. Olaf offense, which needed just three plays to add to its lead. After a pair of runs by Gartzke netted 17 yards, Doran found McNearny in behind the Hamline secondary on the right side for a 43-yard touchdown. The touchdown catch was the second of McNearny's career and his first of the season.
After another three-and-out by Hamline, St. Olaf pushed its lead to 20-0 at the end of the first quarter when Gartzke scored from five yards out with 12 seconds to go in the quarter. Earlier on the possession, Doran converted a fourth-and-one on a sneak to keep the drive alive. Doran scored on sneaks on each of the Oles' next two drives to stretch St. Olaf's lead to 34-0 with 5:18 left in the first half.
St. Olaf's final score of the half came on a 26-yard pass from Doran to Monroe for Monroe's first collegiate touchdown, which came four plays after sophomore Logan Butts stuffed Hamline quarterback Alejandro Villanueva at the line on a fourth-and-two play near midfield. The Oles outgained the Pipers by a 370-78 margin in the first half.
Nicholas Vasko scored on a five-yard run for Hamline with 12:47 to go in the game to help the visitors avoid the shutout. Through four games, St. Olaf has outscored its opponents by a 162-34 margin, an average of 40.5-8.5 on a per-game basis.
In the midst of a three-game homestand, the Oles will take on crosstown-rival Carleton College in the annual meeting for the Goat on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.
St. Olaf stays unbeaten with 41-point first half in rout of Hamline
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20241005_obip.xml
2024
Hamline
6
St. Olaf
41
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamline (2-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| St. Olaf (4-0) | 20 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
Oct 05, 2024