University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Olaf
Football holds off Oles' rally, wins 24-21
10/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
St. Thomas' DE John Kaiser and CB Jeremy Krentz returned interceptions for touchdowns and the Tommies made three huge stops in the final 90 seconds to hold off visiting St. Olaf 24-21 in MIAC football play Saturday at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
The Tommies (3-1 overall, 2-1 MIAC), who ended a three-game home losing streak dating back to last season, scored 17 unanswered points to lead 17-7 at halftime. UST built a 24-7 lead just three minutes into the second half on Krentz' 72-yard interception return off a one-handed pass breakup and pickoff and his weaving return to the end zone.
St. Olaf (2-2, 0-2), which had three costly turnovers, controlled the last quarter and a half. They pulled within 24-21 with 9:02 remaining on Bobby Andrade's three-yard TD run that capped an eight-play, 90-yard drive.
After a Tommie punt, the Oles' drove from midfield to the Tommie 33 before a drive stalled. Freshman PK Paul Fortman missed a 50-yard field goal attempt on 4th-and-5 with 5:28 left after a low snap.
The Oles got the ball back with 2:13 left at the St. Olaf 23-yard-line and drove to the Tommie 42-yard line and faced 2nd-and-1. UST's Mike Hara stopped Andrade for a three-yard loss. After an Ole timeout with 1:25 to go, a third-down pass was overthrown. On 4th-and-4 from the UST 45, QB Jason Wilsey was sacked by Kaiser and fumbled and the ball went over on downs with 1:02 left to end the last comeback try.
Kaiser had two sacks, two forced fumbles, four tackles for loss and scored his first career TD.
The Oles outgained St. Thomas 309-288 yards. The Tommies were held to five first downs in the second half and were haunted by several dropped passes and six fourth-quarter penalties for 65 yards. UST's Walter Dosh rushed 22 times for 83 yards and caught four passes for 43 yards. Soph QB Ryan Jansen was 18-of-35 passing for 192 yards, one TD, a two-point pass into traffic and two interceptions. Joel Korte had five catches for 69 yards, including a 21-yard TD early in the second quarter.
Besides the two pickoffs returned for touchdowns, Wilsey's lost fumble at the Tommie 12 with 1:40 left in the third period was recovered by Hara.
Marc Olson had a 63-yard scoring run on the Oles' first possession and finished with 72 rushing yards. Andrade had 16 carries for 43 yards and caught six passes for 53 yards. Nick Rost had four catches for 62 yards. Wilsey completed 15-of-31 for 173 yards, no TDs and two costly interceptions. Brandon Joyce's 24-yard halfback pass to Rost to the Tommie two-yard line set up their second TD.
For UST, Andrew Ubbelohde had 12 tackles, Ben Kessler had four tackles, a sack and a key forced fumble, and Luke Rezac had four tackles and a sack.
For the Oles' defense, Matt Bucka and Peter St. Larwence had interceptions; Peter Grinager, Latravis Henry and Jared Moen each had a sack.
St. Thomas is off next week and plays Oct. 16 at Bethel. The Oles, who have played three consecutive road games, now play four of their next five at home as they host Carleton next Saturday.
