University of St. Thomas Athletics
The Tommie offensive linemen were unsung heroes all season as they helped the balanced offense in a 10-1 season
Photo by: Dan Borgeson
Football moves up to No. 19 in AFCA coaches poll for FCS
11/21/2022 12:51:00 PM | Football
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Click HERE to access AFCA news release
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Waco, Texas - St. Thomas capped a 10-1 season and secured the solo Pioneer Football League championship on Saturday with its 27-13 road win at Butler. On Monday it moved up again by two spots in the latest AFCA top-25 poll for FCS teams.
The Tommies (10-1 overall, 8-0 Pioneer) come in at No. 19 after their season-ending victory. St. Thomas is not eligible for NCAA postseason competition while it establishes full membership as a Division I university. Pioneer runner-up Davidson won a tie-breaker to take the league's automatic bid.
Three weeks ago the Purple broke into the AFCA top 25 for the first time in the two seasons of the Division I era; seven days later they climbed from No. 25 to No. 23; and again last week they moved up two spot to No. 21.
The FCS top 10 stayed the same led by No. 1 South Dakota State, No. 2 Sacramento State, No. 3 Montana State No. 4 North Dakota State and No. 5 Jackson State.
Princeton, the Ivy League co-leader, dropped out of the poll leaving the Tommies as the lone non-scholarship programs in this week's top 25.
St. Thomas moves onto a short list of teams to be ranked in the top-25 at two different NCAA levels during one five-year span. It joined Mary Hardin-Baylor and Mount Union as the only three Division III teams to finish in the top-20 of D-III polls for 11 consecutive years from 2009-2019.
Out of two dozen teams that have joined FCS since 2004, St. Thomas became the first program to win a conference title in its first or second season. Two programs did it in year three in their conferences: Kennesaw State (2017, 5-0 in Big South Conference) and North Dakota State (2006, 4-0 in Great West Conference).
Did You Know?
Click HERE to access AFCA news release
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Waco, Texas - St. Thomas capped a 10-1 season and secured the solo Pioneer Football League championship on Saturday with its 27-13 road win at Butler. On Monday it moved up again by two spots in the latest AFCA top-25 poll for FCS teams.
The Tommies (10-1 overall, 8-0 Pioneer) come in at No. 19 after their season-ending victory. St. Thomas is not eligible for NCAA postseason competition while it establishes full membership as a Division I university. Pioneer runner-up Davidson won a tie-breaker to take the league's automatic bid.
Three weeks ago the Purple broke into the AFCA top 25 for the first time in the two seasons of the Division I era; seven days later they climbed from No. 25 to No. 23; and again last week they moved up two spot to No. 21.
The FCS top 10 stayed the same led by No. 1 South Dakota State, No. 2 Sacramento State, No. 3 Montana State No. 4 North Dakota State and No. 5 Jackson State.
Princeton, the Ivy League co-leader, dropped out of the poll leaving the Tommies as the lone non-scholarship programs in this week's top 25.
St. Thomas moves onto a short list of teams to be ranked in the top-25 at two different NCAA levels during one five-year span. It joined Mary Hardin-Baylor and Mount Union as the only three Division III teams to finish in the top-20 of D-III polls for 11 consecutive years from 2009-2019.
Out of two dozen teams that have joined FCS since 2004, St. Thomas became the first program to win a conference title in its first or second season. Two programs did it in year three in their conferences: Kennesaw State (2017, 5-0 in Big South Conference) and North Dakota State (2006, 4-0 in Great West Conference).
Did You Know?
- St. Thomas ranks in the top six among 130 FCS teams in scoring defense (17.2 ppg), third-down conversion defense (.299) and rushing yards allowed (96.5 ppg). They also rank in the top 10 in total yards allowed; first downs allowed; tackles for losses and sacks; and blocked kicks. They lead all NCAA teams with four blocked kicks returned or recovered for touchdowns.
- The balanced Toms closed with 4,158 total yards of offense through 11 games (378 ypg) after gaining 3,200 yards in 10 games last season (320 ypg).
- This season's total includes averaging 200 rushing yards and 178 passing yards a game. Offensive backs had 23 rushing TDs, receivers had 18. Last season, the Toms averaged 168 rushing yards and 152 passing yards a contest.
- St. Thomas is tied for eighth among all Division I football teams for consecutive season victories with 10 (Georgia 13; Ohio State 12, TCU 11, Michigan 11, Sacramento State 11, Holy Cross 11, Jackson State 11, St. Thomas 10; South Dakota State 10).
- The Purple have won 26 in a row at O'Shaughnessy Stadium, the third most consecutive home-field wins in NCAA football behind only Clemson (40) and Cincinnati (32).
- The Toms also have 10 consecutive Pioneer Football League victories, tied for sixth among all Division I programs for most conference wins in a row (Sacramento State 18, Jackson State 18; Holy Cross 17; Michigan 13; Clemson 11; St. Thomas 10; Georgia 9)
- The Toms also have 37 consecutive regular-season home-field wins; and 12 consecutive wins in games played on Saturdays.
- Twenty different Toms scored the team's 49 touchdowns.
- The Toms received eight special teams or defensive touchdowns by eight different players during their season-ending 10-game win streak.
- St. Thomas has held opponents to 17 or less points in 12 of 16 conference games in the FCS era.
- The Toms had three tailbacks rush for 99 or more yards on six games freshman Gabriel Abel rushed for 100 vs. Drake; sophomore Shawn Shipman rushed for 105 yards and a TD against San Diego; 168 and a score vs. Stetson; and 99 yards at Butler; and redshirt sophomore Hope Adebayo rushed for 132 at Marist and 128 at Valpo. That trio has combined to gain 1,668 yards on 300 carries (5.4 ypr) and run for 13 touchdowns.
- Senior QB Cade Sexauer had a streak on nine games in a row throwing a TD pass halted at Butler with two rushing and one special teams TD. He had 17 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions, and his offensive line has only allowed six sacks in eight conference games.
- St. Thomas moved to 14-0 on Senior Days in the Glenn Caruso era with Saturday's win, and improved to 43-4 in November games.
- In the Division III MIAC and in FCS Pioneer Football League, Caruso's teams have finished in the top three of the standings all 14 seasons, with eight championships.
- Caruso's 143-25 overall record with the Tommies (.850) includes a 100-14 mark vs. conference opponents (.876)
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, November 18
Friday, August 29
Thursday, August 28
Saturday, November 23
