University of St. Thomas Athletics
Augsburg
Sat. Football: UST rallies for 28-21 win
9/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
see Auggie story, link to box score here
Senior Peter Ridley had two clutch fourth-quarter runs and Steve Groth had two interceptions in the final 4:00 as St. Thomas rallied to post a 28-21 win over host Augsburg in MIAC football play Saturday in Minneapolis.
Ridley's 62-yard punt return tied the game with 10:00 to play at 21-21. With just over 2:00 to play, Ridley's 16-yard run on 3rd-and-12 led to the winning score with 1:55 to play.
The Tommies (2-1 overall, 1-1 MIAC) scored two special teams TDs and rallied from deficits of 14-0 and 21-14. They survived 10 penalties as they avenged a 17-14 loss to the Auggies on the same field last October when Augsburg scored a TD in the final 2:00 to win.
Besides giving up two special-teams touchdowns, Augsburg (0-3 overall, 0-1 MIAC) lost five turnovers. The Auggies have lost all three games in the final 2:00 and have been outscored 31-3 in the fourth quarter on the season.
UST junior Walter Dosh's 10-yard scoring run with 1:55 to play -- the Toms' first second-half offensive TD of the season -- gave the Tommies their first lead of the day.
Dosh rushed 20 times for 82 yards and caught five passes for 33 yards. Groth intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter, had a forced fumble, eight tackles and one pass defensed. The Tommies had no turnovers on the day.
Tommie sophomore QB Ryan Jansen made his first collegiate start and completed 21-of-34 passes for 258 yards and one TD with no interceptions. He threw a 42-yard scoring pass to sophomore P.J. Theisen early in the second quarter to pull the Toms within 14-7.
The Tommie defense had four sacks, blocked a punt that led to an 18-yard TD return by Luke Rezac, and recovered three Auggie fumbles. Ben Kessler had a sack, nine tackles and blocked a punt. Andrew Ubbelohde has 12 tackles and a 1.5 sacks, and John Kaiser, Mike Hara and Justin Nwadiashi all had fumble recoveries.
Augsburg soph QB Marcus LeVesseur, in his first career start, threw two TD passes, rushed for 135 yards and had a 63-yard kickoff return that set up the Auggies' third score. After the blocked punt and return made it 14-14, LeVesseur's long kickoff return set up his 12-yard scoring pass to give the Auggies a 21-14 lead.
Ridley's 62-yard punt return with 10:07 to go, his third career touchdown, tied the game at 21-21.
After each team traded punts, Groth's first interception of the day on third down at the Tommie 31 with 3:33 left set up the winning points. A 45-yard pass from Jansen to Joel Korte on first down took the ball to the Auggie 24. On 3rd-and-12 at the Auggie 26, Ridley ran for 16 yards. Two plays later, Dosh scored from 10 yards for a 28-21 lead.
The Auggies returned the kickoff to the 40 and had a 12-yard pass completion to the St. Thomas 48, but Groth picked off another 3rd-down pass with 1:33 left to help seal the win.
The Tommies outgained Augsburg 405-357 yards.
St. Thomas hosts St. Olaf next Saturday.
