Football tops Lincoln, earns 32nd regular-season home win in a row

St. Paul. Minn. – Tommie Football received five touchdowns from five different players and points from nine players Saturday as it recorded a 43-6 non-conference victory over Lincoln (Calif.) University at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.

For the second-straight game, the Tommies (2-1) blocked a punt and returned it for a score. The Purple also also held its opponent out of the end zone for the second consecutive contest.

St. Thomas has allowed 12 points, all field goals, over its last eight quarters. The Tommie defense had two takeaways and a safety in the second half and limited the Oaklanders to 1-of-14 on third-down conversions on the day.

Senior special teamer Ty Barron, senior TE James Klecker and freshman WR Bryce Boyd all scored their first career TDs for St. Thomas, which extended its home regular-season win streak to 32 games.

Cade Sexauer completed 15-of-22 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, with receptions by nine different Toms. Running back Gabe Abel had his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game with 16 carries for 104 yards in his third college contest. Sophomore RB Shawn Shipman had 16 carries for 73 yards and one score.

Sophomore Mason Cassady had his first career interception, and sophomore Yusef Leak recovered a fumble to lead a balanced Tommie defense on the day. Freshman Ryan Sever blocked the punt that set up Barron's TD return.

Fast Start

The Tommies marched the ball down field on their opening drive, which was capped off with a 16-yard touchdown strike from senior QB Cade Sexauer to junior WR Jacob Wildermuth. St. Thomas used a trick-play which ended with a two-point play by senior RB Joshua Komis giving the Purple an early 8-0 lead. The Purple have scored a touchdown on each of their three opening drives with a touchdown.

Sexauer threw his second touchdown of first quarter, this time to Klecker, from 19 yards out to open at 15-0 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.

Lincoln found its way onto the scoreboard by way of a 28-yard field goal with 3:37 to play in the first quarter.

Neither team was able to add to the scoring column in the second quarter resulting in a 15-3 lead heading into intermission.

Sexauer finished the first half completing 11-of-15 passing attempts with two touchdowns. Shipman tallied 69 yards on 15 rushing attempts and averaged 4.8 yards per rush.

The Oaklanders scored the first points of the second half by way of a 28-yard field goal with 10:49 to play in the third quarter, cutting the Tommie lead to 15-6.

With 6:21 to play in the third quarter, the Tommies added two points with a safety recorded by sophomore LB Luke Herzog's tackle, opening a 17-6 lead.

Following the safety, the punt by Lincoln, was returned 57 yards by sophomore WR Andrew McElroy to the Oaklander 6-yard line, and a tacked-on penalty gave the Tommies a first-and-goal from their own 3-yard line. Shipman punched it in on first-and-goal opening a 24-6 lead with 6:01 to play in the third quarter.

That play opened the flood gates as 22-point third quarter fueled by a blocked punt by Sever, which was returned 15 yards by Barron for the touchdown. It marked the second-straight game the Tommies blocked a punt and returned it for the score.

Lincoln (0-4) recorded 308 yards of offense, 216 in the air, but was hurt by 18 penalties for 138 yards.

Next Up

St. Thomas opens Pioneer Football play next Saturday at Marist College. Marist scored a 30-25 road win Saturday at Drake to start the conference at 1-0.

There were two surprise results in the Pioneer League games on Saturday as San Diego lost 28-21 at Valparaiso, and Morehead State lost 38-26 at Stetson.

Football tops Lincoln, earns 32nd regular-season home win in a row

Next Event

Team Stats

Cade Sexauer

Amari Powell

Players Mentioned

Ty Barron

Bryce Boyd

Mason Cassady

Luke Herzog

James Klecker

Joshua Komis

Yusef Leak

Andrew McElroy

Ryan Sever

Cade Sexauer

Shawn Shipman

University of St. Thomas Athletics