University of St. Thomas Athletics
Photo by: Dan Borgeson
Football closes at No. 20 in FCS national poll
1/9/2023 10:05:00 AM | Football
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Click HERE to access AFCA news release
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Waco, Texas - Pioneer Football League champion St. Thomas closed at No. 20 in the final AFCA top-25 poll for FCS teams of the 2022 season.
The Tommies (10-1 overall, 8-0 Pioneer) were not eligible for NCAA postseason competition while the university establishes full membership as a Division I university, bujt they won their final 10 games of 2022.
The Purple broke into the AFCA top 25 late in the season -- the program's first poll appearance in the two seasons of the Division I era. They climbed as high as No. 19.
The FCS No. 1 team in national champion South Dakota State. Runner-up North Dakota State was followed in the final poll by Incarnate Word, Sacramento State, Montana State and Holy Cross.
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 - Pioneer Football League champion St. Thomas closed at No. 20 in the final AFCA top-25 poll for FCS teams of the 2022 season.
The Tommies (10-1 overall, 8-0 Pioneer) were not eligible for NCAA postseason competition while the university establishes full membership as a Division I university, bujt they won their final 10 games of 2022.
The Purple broke into the AFCA top 25 late in the season -- the program's first poll appearance in the two seasons of the Division I era. They climbed as high as No. 19.
The FCS No. 1 team in national champion South Dakota State. Runner-up North Dakota State was followed in the final poll by Incarnate Word, Sacramento State, Montana State and Holy Cross.
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.
- The Purple have won 26 in a row at O'Shaughnessy Stadium, the most consecutive home-field wins in NCAA football with Alabama and Montana State next at 20 each.
- 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
