University of St. Thomas Athletics
Carleton
Football pulls away late for 35-13 win over Carleton
10/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
St. Thomas' defenders Matt Meunier and Andrew Ubbelohde forced crucial second-half turnovers to help the Tommies score a 35-13 victory over visiting Carleton in MIAC football Saturday at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
The Tommies (3-4 overall, 3-2 MIAC), who are are 3-0 at home and 0-4 on the road this season, beat the Knights for the 11th consecutive time, but it wasn't easy.
St. Thomas broke to a 14-0 lead with first-quarter scoring drives of 37 and 80 yards capped by short TD runs by Justin Kostner and Paul Delaney. The Knights (0-6, 0-6) pulled within 14-7 by halftime on Matt Topeff's 2-yard touchdown catch from end Ben Cooprider on a trick play.
Meunier's 30-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Tommies a 21-7 lead with 3:50 left in the third period. But Carleton's Erik Fisher ran 71 yards for a score to pull the Knights within 21-13 with 2:53 left in the quarter. The PAT kick missed to keep the lead at eight points.
Still trailing 21-13 early in the fourth period, the Knights capitalized on two Tommie 15-yard penalties and faced first down at the St. Thomas 46. But Ubbelohde stripped the ball from Carleton freshman QB Darren Caspers and recovered at the Tommie 45 to halt that drive.
St. Thomas added fourth-quarter rushing TDs by Kostner from 18 yards and Walter Dosh from 43 yards to ice the victory. Kostner had 149 yards of offense (21 rushes for 83 yards, three receptions for 66 yards). Dosh finished with 88 rushing yards on 13 carries, 32 yards on two punt returns, and 19 yards on two receptions. Dosh has seven touchdowns in his three career games at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
Fisher had 171 yards rushing on 21 carries for the Knights, but Carleton was held to just 29 yards passing as St. Thomas outgained the Knights 393-219 yards in total offense. St. Thomas was hurt by 13 penalties for 125 yards.
Defensively, Randy Foss had 19 tackles (10 solo) and Dan Karlgaard had 10 with one interception for the Knights; and Meunier has two tackles for loss among his eight tackles with his key interception to lead St. Thomas.
Next Saturday, the Tommies play at Augsburg while Carleton hosts unbeaten Bethel.
