University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, November 5
Valparaiso, Ind.
1:00 P.M. Central
8-1 , 6-0
34
at
7
Valparaiso
4-5 , 3-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
St. Thomas
7
7
13
7
34
Valparaiso
0
0
7
0
7
Many happy returns for Football in latest road victory
11/5/2022 3:22:00 PM | Football
Valparaiso, Ind. - St. Thomas Football used two long return plays to help break open a close game en route to a 34-7 victory over Valparaiso in Saturday's Pioneer Football League play.
The Purple (8-1 overall, 6-0 Pioneer) overcame three early turnovers, never trailed, and received five touchdowns from five different players as they ran their season winning streak to eight games.
Sophomore RB Hope Adebayo ran 12 times for 128 yards -- his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the Division I era -- to lead the Tommie offensive attack.
The No. 25-ranked Toms remain atop the conference standings by one game over Dayton and Davidson (each 5-1 in the Pioneer) with two conference contests to go.
Junior defensive back Grif Wurtz raced 79 yards with a Valpo fumble in the opening quarter from his first collegiate touchdown to help build a 7-0 lead.
The Toms later led 14-0 at halftime, then pushed the margin to 20-0 on a Andrew McElroy 50-yard TD catch from Cade Sexauer.
The Beacons regained momentum with a short TD run that cut the third-quarter lead to 20-7. But freshman Owen Kanzler zipped 89 yards on the ensuing kickoff for his first collegiate touchdown -- in just his seventh touch of the season as a receiver and returner.
Quoting Coach Glenn Caruso (post-game radio show):
"It's pretty awesome. They have now earned themselves the school's first Division I championship week. It will now be us playing at home on Senior Day against Stetson for our very first (Division I) conference championship. Today starts not only our Senior Week but our very first Championship Week, and that's pretty cool."
Next Up
St. Thomas plays its final home game next Saturday against Stetson with a noon kickoff at O'Shaughnessy Stadium. The Hatters passed for 400-plus yards on Saturday but lost 56-48 in two overtimes at Davidson. St. Thomas plays Nov. 19 at Butler to end its season. St. Thomas would secure at least a share of the Pioneer championship with one victory.
Did You Know?
Valparaiso was hurt by eight penalties for 79 yards, including an offsides flag that negated a successful on-side kick and recovery. Immediately after that penalty on the re-kick, Kanzler made his 89-yard touchdown return.
St. Thomas went 8-for-12 in third-down conversions while the Beacons were limited to 3-of-11 on third down. The Tommie offense gained 350 yards, including 222 in the ground, and punted just twice.
The Tommie defense recorded eight sacks and limited Valpo to 187 total yards after 71 yards in sacks were factored in. Malaki-Milton Jackson had 2.5 sacks on Valpo's final drive of the fourth quarter. Luke Glenna had an interception, while Jonathan Bunce had a sack and a forced fumble.
The victory let St. Thomas surpass its 2021 win total, now at eight. In Coach Glenn Caruso's 14 seasons of competition, the Toms have won 10 or more games seven times; won eight or more games 12 times; and had seven or more wins all 14 seasons.
The Purple's 15-4 record thus far in the Division I era includes a 9-0 home record and a 6-4 road record.
St. Thomas has now held 10 of its 14 Pioneer opponents in the FCS era to 17 or less points.
The Toms have outscored their last four opponents in the second half of play by a 76-28 margin.
The Purple (8-1 overall, 6-0 Pioneer) overcame three early turnovers, never trailed, and received five touchdowns from five different players as they ran their season winning streak to eight games.
Sophomore RB Hope Adebayo ran 12 times for 128 yards -- his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the Division I era -- to lead the Tommie offensive attack.
The No. 25-ranked Toms remain atop the conference standings by one game over Dayton and Davidson (each 5-1 in the Pioneer) with two conference contests to go.
Junior defensive back Grif Wurtz raced 79 yards with a Valpo fumble in the opening quarter from his first collegiate touchdown to help build a 7-0 lead.
The Toms later led 14-0 at halftime, then pushed the margin to 20-0 on a Andrew McElroy 50-yard TD catch from Cade Sexauer.
The Beacons regained momentum with a short TD run that cut the third-quarter lead to 20-7. But freshman Owen Kanzler zipped 89 yards on the ensuing kickoff for his first collegiate touchdown -- in just his seventh touch of the season as a receiver and returner.
Quoting Coach Glenn Caruso (post-game radio show):
"It's pretty awesome. They have now earned themselves the school's first Division I championship week. It will now be us playing at home on Senior Day against Stetson for our very first (Division I) conference championship. Today starts not only our Senior Week but our very first Championship Week, and that's pretty cool."
Next Up
St. Thomas plays its final home game next Saturday against Stetson with a noon kickoff at O'Shaughnessy Stadium. The Hatters passed for 400-plus yards on Saturday but lost 56-48 in two overtimes at Davidson. St. Thomas plays Nov. 19 at Butler to end its season. St. Thomas would secure at least a share of the Pioneer championship with one victory.
Did You Know?
Valparaiso was hurt by eight penalties for 79 yards, including an offsides flag that negated a successful on-side kick and recovery. Immediately after that penalty on the re-kick, Kanzler made his 89-yard touchdown return.
St. Thomas went 8-for-12 in third-down conversions while the Beacons were limited to 3-of-11 on third down. The Tommie offense gained 350 yards, including 222 in the ground, and punted just twice.
The Tommie defense recorded eight sacks and limited Valpo to 187 total yards after 71 yards in sacks were factored in. Malaki-Milton Jackson had 2.5 sacks on Valpo's final drive of the fourth quarter. Luke Glenna had an interception, while Jonathan Bunce had a sack and a forced fumble.
The victory let St. Thomas surpass its 2021 win total, now at eight. In Coach Glenn Caruso's 14 seasons of competition, the Toms have won 10 or more games seven times; won eight or more games 12 times; and had seven or more wins all 14 seasons.
The Purple's 15-4 record thus far in the Division I era includes a 9-0 home record and a 6-4 road record.
St. Thomas has now held 10 of its 14 Pioneer opponents in the FCS era to 17 or less points.
The Toms have outscored their last four opponents in the second half of play by a 76-28 margin.
Team Stats
TOMMIES
VALPO
Total Yards
350
187
Pass Yards
128
130
Rushing Yards
222
57
Penalty Yards
39
79
1st Downs
18
12
3rd Downs
8
3
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
32:10
27:50
1st Quarter
TOMMIES 7, VALPO 0
TOMMIES - Grif Wurtz 79 yd fumble recovery (Stephen Shagen kick)
2nd Quarter
TOMMIES 14, VALPO 0
TOMMIES - Cade Sexauer 9 yd run (Stephen Shagen kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:46
3rd Quarter
TOMMIES 20, VALPO 0
TOMMIES - Andrew McElroy 50 yd pass from Cade Sexauer (Kolby Gartner passfailed) 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:09
TOMMIES 20, VALPO 7
VALPO - DAWSON, A. 1 yd run (BARTHOLOMEW kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:06
TOMMIES 27, VALPO 7
TOMMIES - Owen Kanzler 89 yd kickoff return (Stephen Shagen kick)
4th Quarter
TOMMIES 34, VALPO 7
TOMMIES - Shawn Shipman 3 yd run (Stephen Shagen kick), 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 5:13
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
8
TD
1
YDS
128
INT
2
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