University of St. Thomas Athletics
8-0 , 6-0
Bethel
5-2 , 3-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Univ. of St. Thomas | 14 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Bethel University | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
Football holds off Bethel, removes "thorn"
10/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
By DOUG HENNES
Last December, after Bethel defeated St. Thomas in the NCAA Division III playoffs, Rachael Caruso sent her husband a story about a man who had purchased a dozen roses with no petals because he believed people needed to be thankful for the thorns in life.
Last Sunday, when his players gathered to review their win over Hamline and prepare for Saturday's showdown at No. 10 Bethel, Coach Glenn Caruso pulled out the story and read it to them with the reminder: "You need to be thankful for the thorns in life."
On Saturday, the No. 3 Tommies not only remembered the thorns -- the pain of the 12-7 playoff loss to Bethel that ended their 2010 season at 12-1 -- but also learned from them as they defeated the Royals, 23-13, before a crowd of 5,800 in Arden Hills.
"People focus too much on the roses in life, but also need to take advantage of the thorns because they will make you stronger," Caruso said after the game. "That (playoff) loss was a thorn in our side for 11 months. The thorn is out."
Tobin, Albright Shine
St. Thomas (8-0, 6-0 MIAC) had many heroes on this day -- a running back (Colin Tobin) who gained more than 100 yards, a linebacker (Harry Pitera) who recorded tackles for big losses on two fourth-down plays and a kicker (Tim Albright) who made three field goals.
"I cannot tell you how good this feels," Caruso yelled to his team in the post-game huddle at midfield. "When you surround yourselves with the right type of people and work your butt off, good things happen!"
And then, to a mighty roar, Caruso gave his team Sunday off - a first this season.
The game promised to be a showdown between two high-powered offenses averaging more than 40 points and 420 yards a game. In particular, St. Thomas' rushing defense, ranked No. 2 in Division III at 44.7 yards per game, would be tested by a Bethel running attack that averaged 288 yards a game, 10th best in the country.
But the Royals could gain only 137 yards on the ground, including 32 in the first half, throttled by a big-play defense that stopped them on three fourth-and-short situations in St. Thomas territory.
The Tommies jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead on four-yard and five-yard touchdown runs by Tobin, who finished with 133 yards in 31 carries. Bethel picked up two quick first downs on its next series and, on fourth-and-one at the Tommies' 46, quarterback Josh Aakre pitched the ball to Brandon Marquardt.
"They ran the same play at me in the playoffs last year," Pitera said, "but I did a better job on it this time. I just got the right read, broke into the backfield and caught him" for an eight-yard loss.
Caruso said Pitera told his coaches during a Bethel timeout before the play that the Royals would try the pitchout.
"It's their go-to play," Caruso said. "Harry called it, and he stopped it."
St. Thomas took over and drove to the Bethel 31, where Albright kicked the longest field goal of his career -- 48 yards -- for a 17-0 lead halfway through the second quarter. He wasn't sure Caruso would call for a field goal.
"I was a little surprised, but I have been kicking well in practice," Albright said. "Coach trusted me, and I was ready. If he called for a field goal, fine. If not, fine."
Caruso had no doubt Albright would nail the field goal, and the 17-point lead gave him a little more comfort. "Any time you can get up by three scores, you're in a better position," he said.
Pressure Works
Pitera ended Bethel's next series at the St. Thomas 25 with a 10-yard, fourth-and-2 sack of Aakre. Caruso credited defensive coordinator Wallie Kuchinski for calling the blitz at the perfect time.
"It was a blitz off the edge and I chased him," Pitera said. "I thought he would throw but I was able to get to him and wrap him up."
The Royals got on the scoreboard with 1:10 left in the first half on a 33-yard touchdown pass, ending St. Thomas' shutout streak at nine quarters, but the Tommies weren't going to run out the clock. Two Dakota Tracy completions of 7 and 33 yards to wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel sandwiched a 15-yard penalty and put the ball at the Bethel 20, but the Royals stiffened at the 3 and Albright kicked a 20-yard field goal for a 20-7 halftime lead.
Bethel took the second-half kickoff and drove to the St. Thomas 3, but Aakre's fourth-down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. The Royals held the Tommies to a three-and-out series and drove 41 yards in six plays, with Aakre running the ball in from the 5 to narrow the deficit to 20-13. The Tommies blocked the extra-point kick.
Neither team could move the ball on its next three possessions, but St. Thomas salted away the win with 2:55 left in the game on an Albright 25-yard field goal to make the score 23-13. The 14-play drive to the Bethel 8 chewed up 70 yards and nearly seven minutes on the clock.
"That drive is all about what this team is built for - to pound the rock before it cracks," Caruso said. "We executed on that drive."
"We were trying to milk it: keep the ball on the ground and keep the clock running," said Tracy. "We were working to get the touchdown and didn't want to have to put it on the kicker's foot. But we were confident in Tim, and he came through."
Pick Seals It
Bethel gamely fought back, driving quickly to the St. Thomas 25, where Aakre threw into the left corner of the end zone. Cornerback Jack Gavin made a spectacular play for his second interception of the season.
"I knew they had to take a deep shot," Gavin said, "and I just got position on him. I had one hand free, and was able to tip the ball up and come down with it."
The Tommies return home Saturday for their last regular-season game in O'Shaughnessy Stadium, facing Gustavus Adolphus.
The Gusties (1-6, 1-4) lost 24-16 to St. John's on Saturday in St. Peter. They have three losses by eight or less points this season.
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Check back Sunday for Greg Smith action photos
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Click here for box score:
http://athletics.bethel.edu/custompages/football/2011/stats/ust-fb.htm
Team Stats
UST-FB 7, BU 0
UST-FB - Colin Tobin 4 yd run (Tim Albright kick), 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:54
UST-FB 14, BU 0
UST-FB - Colin Tobin 5 yd run (Tim Albright kick), 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:55
UST-FB 17, BU 0
UST-FB - Tim Albright 48 yd field goal 6 plays, 15 yards, TOP 3:28
UST-FB 17, BU 7
BU - Walker,Reese 33 yd pass from Aakre,Josh (Wetherell,Matt kick) 5 plays, 51 yards, TOP 1:30
UST-FB 20, BU 7
UST-FB - Tim Albright 20 yd field goal 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:01
UST-FB 20, BU 13
BU - Aakre,Josh 11 yd run (Wetherell,Matt kickblocked), 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 2:44
UST-FB 23, BU 13
UST-FB - Tim Albright 25 yd field goal 13 plays, 70 yards, TOP 6:49
