University of St. Thomas Athletics
Carleton
Football beats Knights, 33-31, on game's final play
10/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Senior QB David Sauer connected with junior TE Jake Friederichs on a six-yard TD pass as time expired to give the host St. Thomas Tommies a dramatic 33-31 victory over visiting Carleton in MIAC football play Saturday at UST's O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
St. Thomas (5-2 overall, 3-2 MIAC) moved into a share of second place with St. John's, one half game behind first-place Concordia. The game went back-and-forth for 60 minutes with a total of five lead changes.
Sauer converted two fourth-down passes on the game-winning drive and passed for 217 yards and two TDs. UST had second-and-goal at the one but a false start moved the ball to six with 10 seconds left. After two quick incompletions and UST down to its final play, Sauer looked right and found a wide-open Friederichs moving to the left sideline for the winning connection.
Carleton (5-2, 3-2), which gained 405 yards of offense, had its second gut-wrenching loss in a row. Carleton was on the verge of ending a 15-game losing streak to St. Thomas and win its first game at O'Shaughnessy Stadium since 1989 before the Toms stormed down field and converted the game-winning points on the last play.
The Knights rallied from a 27-17 deficit with two fourth-quarter TDs, the latter scored when they recovered their own fumble in the end zone with 1:22 to go.
Friederich's touchdown catch was his second in the game and third TD among just five total receptions in the last two weeks.
Freshman Fritz Waldvogel had 70-yard punt return a third-quarter touchdown. he also caught six passes for 96 yards, including a 15-yarder on 4th-and-1 in the final 40 seconds.
Ben Wartman rushed 32 times for 126 yards -- his fourth 100-yard rushing game in his last five.
Carleton quarterback Shane Henfling threw three TD passes for 392 yards and set the Carleton single-game mark for completions (41), breaking his own record of 33 from November 2007. Knights' WR Matt Frank broke his own Carleton record for receptions (16) for 126 yards an a TD.
All six of the Tommies' MIAC games have been decided by eight or less points. Coach Glenn Caruso's team has won four of its last five games since a six-overtime loss at St. Olaf. The Toms are assured of at least a .500 finish after an uncharacteristic 2-8 campaign in 2007.
Defensively, Bryan Villar had a pickoff and a 37-yard return; Tommy Becker had 12 tackles and one pass breakup; and Tony Danna's nine tackles included three for loss and two sacks.
UST is at Augsburg next Saturday.
Click here for box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/stats/10-25-fb.htm
MORE story, photos later Sunday
Ben Wartman (8) now has 770 rushing yards in seven games. (Mike Ekern photo)
Cyrus Allen (94) applies pressure. (Mike Ekern photo)
Jake Friederichs' catch was a winner -- literally. (Mike Ekern photo)
