Defense fuels Football's 32-6 home defeat of Michigan Tech

St. Paul, Minn. - Sophomore RB Shawn Shipman rushed for 157 yards and two short touchdowns in his first collegiate start and the St. Thomas defense limited Michigan Tech to 150 yards of offense and no touchdowns in Saturday's 32-6 Tommie victory in non-conference play at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.

With the win, the Tommies remain perfect in home openers under Head Coach Glenn Caruso (14-0) and push their regular-season home winning streak to 32 games.

The Purple used two special teams touchdowns and a stout defensive effort to improve to 1-1 on the season. A blocked punt and a fake field goal helped propel the Tommies to the victory, while the St. Thomas defensive unit held Michigan Tech to a 1-of-15 showing on third downs, a 1-of-3 effort on fourth downs and kept the Huskies out of the end zone in the win.

The Tommies once again rushed out to an early lead with a long run on the opening possession as sophomore RB Shawn Shipman busted free for 58 yards on the second play from scrimmage. Shipman punched it in from one yard out for the game's first score, giving the Tommies a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter after a failed point after attempt.

With 10:44 to play in the second quarter, freshman linebacker Ryan Sever blocked a Huskies punt at the 36-yard line which bounced into the end zone and was recovered by freshman defensive back Mitchell Schares for a Purple touchdown, extending the Tommies lead to 13-3.

With 5:55 remaining in the first half, senior quarterback Cade Sexauer connected on a 33-yard touchdown strike to sophomore wide receiver Andrew McElroy to push the Tommies lead to 19-3. Shipman scored his second touchdown of the first half, once again on a one-yard rush to open a 26-3 lead heading into intermission.

The Tommies outgained the Huskies 208-89 on the offensive side of the ball. Shipman finished the first half with 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Sexauer finished the half completing 5-of-10 passing attempts for 72 yards with one touchdown and one interception. McElroy posted 62 yards receiving on three receptions with one touchdown catch.

Grind It Out Second Half

The two teams exchanged turnovers to start the second half. The Tommies fumbling awy their first possession of the second half, but sophomore DB Yusef Leak intercepted a Michigan Tech pass in the end zone to deny the Huskies.

With 3:28 remaining in the third quarter, the St. Thomas special teams unit added another touchdown to its stat column, this time an 11-yard TD rush by junior P Kolby Gartner, who was serving as the holder on a field goal attempt pushing the Purple's lead to 32-3. The only score of the fourth quarter was a 40-yard field goal by the Huskies with under three minutes to play.

The Tommies, who won just 12-9 in the 2021 meeting at Michigan Tech, outgained the Huskies here Saturday 296 yards to 150 yards on offense.

Individually, Sexauer completed 8-of-17 passing attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown. Shipman finished with 157 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. McElroy finished the contest with 70 yards on four receptions with one touchdown.

Defensively, sophomore OLB Jonathan Bunce led the Purple with seven tackles and 1.0 TFL. Senior S Luke Glenna added six tackles and two passes defensed.

St. Thomas has a bye week Sept. 17 and is home to face Lincoln (Calif.) University on Sept. 24 in tits final non-conference test before starting Pioneer Football League play Oct.1 at Marist.

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Defense fuels Football's 32-6 home defeat of Michigan Tech

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Team Stats

Cade Sexauer

Players Mentioned

Jonathan Bunce

Kolby Gartner

Luke Glenna

Yusef Leak

Andrew McElroy

Mitchell Schares

Ryan Sever

Cade Sexauer

Shawn Shipman

University of St. Thomas Athletics