University of St. Thomas Athletics
Gustavus Adolphus
QB Ambrasas leads Toms to 34-24 football win at GAC
10/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Junior QB Nick Ambrasas ran for a TD and completed 27-of-33 passes with a TD with no interceptions for 266 yards to lead St. Thomas to a 34-24 MIAC football victory Saturday at Gustavus.
The Toms (5-3 overall, 5-2 MIAC) remain in a third-place tie with St. Olaf in the MIAC race. Bethel (7-0) topped St. John's (6-1) a home Saturday 43-36 to take over sole possession of the conference lead. UST is assured of a winning MIAC record and a .500 or better overall finish with two games to play.
The Toms, who had no turnovers and had the ball for 39 of 60 minutes on offense, never trailed in the game and outgained Gustavus in total yards 474-211. The Tommie defense had six sacks and held the Gusties to just 46 yards rushing.
UST soph PK Brian Lynch was 2-for-2 in field goals (37, 20 yards) and 4-of-4 in PAT kicks. Soph halfback Jake Barkley had his seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game as he gained 148 yards on 25 carries, including a 31-yard TD run in the first quarter that put the Toms ahead 7-0. Barkley now has 1,286 rushing yards in eight games 160.7 ypg) and 1,221 in seven MIAC games (174.4 ypg). He also surpasses 2,000 career all-purpose yards (now at 2,013, including 1,651 rushing).
Senior Marcus Ludtke of Albert Lea rushed 13 times for 51 yards and had one TD. Counting his two seasons at Concordia-Moorhead, Ludtke now has 1,882 rushing yards in his college career with two games to play. Senior fullback Mike Westland of Albert Lea caught three passes for 38 yards and now has 96 receptions for 968 yards on his career.
Andrew Hilliard caught seven passes for 107 yards; Jon Learn had five catches for 47 yards; Brian Brenberg had five catches for 46 yards; and Justin Hall caught a nine-yard TD pass and had three overall receptions for 18 yards.
The Toms will play Friday vs. Bethel at 8 p.m. in the Metrodome.
