University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Olaf
Football wins 35-15 at St. Olaf
10/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Senior QB Nick Ambrasas passed for a career-high 387 yards in just over three quarters as he led St. Thomas to a 35-8 lead en route to a 35-15 victory at St. Olaf in MIAC football Saturday in Northfield.
The Tommies (3-0 MIAC, 3-2 overall), scored 21 unanswered points after the Oles had pulled within 14-8 early in the third period.
St. Thomas remained unbeaten in the conference and kept pace with Concordia (4-0 MIAC) and St. John's (3-0 MIAC), both road winners Saturday.
St. Thomas has now won 15 of its last 17 MIAC road games over parts of the last five seasons.
The Tommie offense gained 588 yards while recording 32 first downs and having more than 37:00 in time of possession. The Oles (2-2, 3-2), held to 114 yards of total offense, were sacked five times.
UST safety Joe Fritze had two sacks among his eight solo tackles, and Sean O'Leary had one sack -- his ninth of the season and the 27 1-2 of his career.
Tommie junior RB Justin Kostner, playing for injured starter Jake Barkley, had three short TD runs and finished with 97 rushing yards on 28 carries. His TD run in the final 2:00 of the first half built a 14-0 halftime lead.
Ambrasas completed 29-of-42 passes for 387 yards and two TDs, with one attempt picked off. He has thrown a TD pass in 20 consecutive games.
Junior WR Mitch Nelson had a career-best nine catches for 99 yards, including a nine-yard TD in the first quarter.
Senior Andrew Hilliard caught a 21-yard TD pass in the final quarter and finished with seven catches for 90 yards. That leaves him 340 yards shy of breaking the Tommies' career record for receiving yards.
Senior WR Justin Hall surpassed 100 career receptions in the victory. Hall caught five passes for 94 yards and now has 103 catches for 1,511 yards.
The Oles' last score came with 8:09 to play on an 89-yard interception return by Matt Lafferty off UST backup QB Justin Lockrem.
The Tommies intercepted three passes -- all by Eastview High grads including two by sophomore Paul Sommerstad and one by sophomore Steve Groth.
The Tommies host Gustavus (2-2, 3-2) next Saturday for their 2002 Homecoming game. The Gusties lost at home today to No. 10-ranked St. John's 20-7.
