University of St. Thomas Athletics
5-2
Hamline
2-5
Passing game sharp in Football's 43-7 win
10/26/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
By DOUG HENNES
St. Thomas bounced back Saturday from a tough loss last weekend the same way it did earlier in the season -- with a resounding win at home.
The No. 15 Tommies defeated Hamline 43-7 to run their record to 5-2 (3-2 MIAC) and stay in the hunt for what they hope will be their fifth consecutive NCAA Division III playoff appearance. Hamline dropped to 2-5 and 1-5 on the season.
Three weeks ago, coming off a loss to St. John's, St. Thomas routed Carleton 65-6 and got its offense and defense performing at a level more satisfying to Coach Glenn Caruso. The same could be said for Saturday's win over the Pipers after losing to Bethel on Oct. 19.
"One thing about this team, it is resilient," Caruso said. "It knows how to focus its efforts on the next game. Coming off a loss, you always like a big win."
The sophomore quarterback tandem of Alex Fenske and John Gould sparked the win. Fenske threw for four touchdown passes and hit 22 of 31 passes for 360 yards, while Gould ran for 131 yards on just seven carries, including a 61-yard jaunt for a second-quarter touchdown.
"They give us completely different looks, and that's intentional,"Caruso said of Fenske and Gould, who have taken over quarterback duties since Matt O'Connell's season-ending injury against Gustavus two weeks ago. "They are so different."
Another fast start
Fenske drove St. Thomas to the Hamline 5 on the opening drive, but it stalled on downs. Fenske wasted little time the next time he had the ball, moving the Tommies 76 yards in four plays and hitting freshman Nick Waldvogel on a 14-yard swing pass for the touchdown.
St. Thomas again turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, this time at the Hamline 29, but Tremayne Williams recovered a fumble at the Tommies' 20. Fenske was efficient on the ensuing scoring drive, covering all but two of the 80 yards through the air. Cole Kelly hauled in a 23-yard pass for the touchdown -- his third on only three receptions over the last two years -- and holder Dan Ferrazzo ran in the PAT kick for a 15-0 lead halfway through the second quarter.
Caruso praised Fenske for "standing tall in the pocket" and displaying patience in finding his receivers. Three of them accounted for more than 275 yards -- Ferrazzo (100 yards), Jack Gilliland (90 yards) and Dan Noehring (87 yards).
"We didn't go in thinking we would pass that much, but when we saw the defense they were playing, it was begging for the pass," Caruso said. "Alex not only was able to throw the ball vertically today but out to the sides, too."
Fenske credited his offensive line and receiving corps for making his job easy.
"The line played great," he said, "and the receivers ran good routes and made the right cuts. There was a lot of trust out there today. Everybody did his job."
Ferrazzo's six catches led the Tommies, and he became their first receiver to go over 100 yards this season. He liked the way Fenske kept his cool under pressure.
"The line gave Alex time, but he threw some tough balls, too," Ferrazzo said. "He made all the right reads. He got licked a couple of times but he hung in there."
Gould relieved Fenske with six minutes remaining in the first half and led two quick scoring drives.
The first started from the Hamline 25 after defensive back Winter Cullen recovered a fumble -- the second of three Hamline lost fumbles on the day. The six-play drive featured three penalties and ended with Waldvogel's second touchdown, a three-yard run.
Gould made short work of the second drive. He dropped back at his 39 but quickly darted up the middle, cut to his right and then to his left and outran the Hamline secondary for a 61-yard touchdown run.
"It was a quarterback draw play all the way," said Gould, who finished with 131 yards on just seven rushes. "It was well-blocked at the line and just opened up for me once I got into the second and third levels."?
Caruso marveled at Gould's touchdown run.
"John's vision is impeccable," he said. "It reminds me of Fritz (Waldvogel, a wide receiver and returner on Caruso's first four St. Thomas teams). "One commonality as shorter athletes is they see between people, not over them, and they know how to take advantage of that."?
Ferrazzo put it another way in assessing Gould's running: "He's got some moves!"
Hamline took the second-half kickoff and moved 70 yards for its only score. Sophomore running back Austin Duncan, the MIAC's leading rusher with 1,047 yards, accounted for every yard on the drive and finished with 190 yards on 37 rushes -- or 80 percent of his team's 235 overall yards. He is the only opposing player to run for more than 100 yards against St. Thomas this year.
The Tommies wrapped up the scoring with two Fenske touchdown passes. The first capped another quick drive -- four plays, 67 yards and 50 seconds -- when Fenske found Noehring, who broke a tackle near the Hamline 40 and sprinted down the sideline for the 55-yard score. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Fenske found a wide-open Greg Kriege for a 25-yard touchdown.
Statistics and a look ahead
St. Thomas had 631 yards of offense, the second time this year with more than 600, with the passing game coming one yard short of hitting 400. The Pipers were held to 51 yards in the air on 8 of 13 passing.
The Tommie defense still has not given up a point in the first quarter this year, as UST has outscored opponents 66-0. The margin is nearly as impressive in the third quarter, at 69-10.
St. Thomas goes on the road Nov. 2 to face Augsburg, which dropped to 4-3 (3-3 MIAC) after losing 47-20 to Concordia on Saturday in Moorhead. The Tommies have won five in a row over the Auggies, including 30-14 last year at home.
In other MIAC action Saturday, undefeated MIAC leader Bethel defeated Gustavus 41-17; Carleton overcame Northfield rival St. Olaf 42-37. St. John's had a bye.
Box score: http://www.miacathletics.com/sports/fball/2013-14/boxscores/20131026_mfrb.xml
Team Stats
HU 0, UST-MEN 7
UST-MEN - Nick Waldvogel 14 yd pass from Alex Fenske (Paul Graupner kick) 4 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:29
HU 0, UST-MEN 15
UST-MEN - Cole Kelly 23 yd pass from Alex Fenske (Dan Ferrazzo rush) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:01
HU 0, UST-MEN 22
UST-MEN - Nick Waldvogel 4 yd run (Paul Graupner kick), 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 2:17
HU 0, UST-MEN 29
UST-MEN - John Gould 61 yd run (Paul Graupner kick), 1 plays, 56 yards, TOP 0:13
HU 7, UST-MEN 29
HU - Austin Duncan 6 yd run (Forr. Coughlin kick), 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:07
HU 7, UST-MEN 36
UST-MEN - Dan Noehring 55 yd pass from Alex Fenske (Paul Graupner kick) 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:50
HU 7, UST-MEN 43
UST-MEN - Greg Kriege 25 yd pass from Alex Fenske (Paul Graupner kick) 6 plays, 40 yards, TOP 2:21
