University of St. Thomas Athletics
Concordia-Moorhead
Football wins 14-13 over Cobbers, now 4-1
10/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sophomore running back Ben Wartman rushed for 122 yards and the St. Thomas defense pitched a second-half shutout as UST surprised No. 23-ranked Concordia-Moorhead 14-13 Saturday afternoon in MIAC football play in Moorhead.
UST (4-1 overall, 3-1 MIAC) had no turnovers on a wet day. Its young defense gained some revenge after surrenduring 51 points to the Cobbers in a 2007 loss. Since a six-overtime defeat at St. Olaf last month, Coach Glenn Caruso's team won its third game in a row, including two road victories in eight days.
St. Thomas has only six turnovers through five games after committing 16 in an 1-4 start in 2007.
Cory Johnson had 20 carries for 180 yards and one TD for the Cobbers (3-2, 2-1), who missed a 38-yard field goal with 4:30 to go that could have given them the lead. Concordia arlier missed a PAT kick on their cool, rainy Homecoming day.
Sam Moen's 63-yard TD reception on UST's first offensive play let the Toms take a 7-0 lead. The Tommies have now scored first in all five games and have allowed just 10 touchdowns in 20 quarters of regulation. Moen finished with 114 yards on four receptions.
The Cobbers answered with two second-quarter TDs, but a missed PAT kick left it 13-7 at halftime.
Wartman's 12-yard TD run and Eric Taylor's PAT kick capped a nine-play, 
80-yard scoring drive early in the fourth period for a 14-13 lead. A 16-yard Wartman catch and run keyed that drive.
Concordia outgained UST 359-320 but had two turnovers. The Cobs also had six penalties to just two for St. Thomas. Wartman posted his third consecutive rushing game of 100-plus yards.
UST senior QB David Sauer, who passed for 201 yards, converted a key third-down scramble in the final 2:00 to let the Toms run out the clock. Sauer directed an offense that converted 8-of-15 on third downs.
In conference play, St. Thomas is 3-1 and sits alone in second place in the conference behind 4-0 Carleton, which won 49-41 despite a 508-yard passing game by Auggie senior QB Jordan Berg. Augsburg and Concordia are 2-1 and Bethel and St. John's are 2-2. St. Thomas returns home to play rival St. John's and Carleton in the next two weeks.
UST's defense limited the Cobbers to 119 yards in the second half. Tony Danna had 11 tackles; Bryan Villar had eight tackles and forced and recovered a fourth-quarter fumble near midfield; Zach Sturm had two sacks; and Kirk Baglien had a 47-yard interception return.
PHOTO: Sam Moen
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