University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, November 9
St. Paul, Minn.
1:00 p.m. CT
vs
Drake
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Tommies host Drake in key Homecoming match up
11/6/2024 12:00:00 PM | Football
ST. PAUL, MINN. – It's a big weekend for the University of St. Thomas football team. After a disappointing loss to Morehead State last weekend, the Tommies look to right the ship Saturday, as they welcome Drake University to O'Shaughnessy Stadium for Homecoming festivities.
Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at O'Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota, and should be one of the most competitive games of 2024. St. Thomas enters with a single loss in Pioneer Football League (PFL) play, and a win over undefeated Drake would keep the Tommies hopes at a second conference title alive. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, look to repeat as the PFL Champions, having won the conference title in 2023 after defeating St. Thomas in Des Moines in mid-October.
Tickets are still available for Saturday's contest and can be purchased online at www.tommiesports.com/tickets. Fans who are unable to attend in person can now watch St. Thomas football through Midco Sports Plus and the Midco Sports Plus App. The subscription-based service will provide a digital streaming platform for regular season home St. Thomas football games along with exclusive Tommie and Pioneer Football League (PFL) content, including replays, highlights, interviews, and special feature stories. Subscriptions cost $9.99 per month or $79.99 for an annual plan. Fans can also listen to the call on 1500 ESPN and the Varsity Network App and follow Live Stats on TommieSports.com. Saturday's game will also air on FOX9+.
OPENING KICK: St. Thomas looks to get back in the win column in a big way on Saturday, as the team hosts Drake University for Homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at O'Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota.
TUNE IN: Football fans can watch the Tommies on Midco Sports Plus, the Midco Sports Plus App and FOX9+. The subscription-based service will provide a digital streaming platform for regular season home St. Thomas football games along with exclusive Tommie and PFL content, including replays, highlights, interviews, and special feature stories. Fans can also tune in to all St. Thomas football games on 1500 ESPN and the Tommies Sports App. Starting September 3, fans can purchase the Midco Sports All In Package. This package, which will be available September 3, gives fans access to the Summit League Network, CCHA TV and Tommie football games for the cost of $29.99 per month.
LAST TIME OUT: St. Thomas did not get off to the start it was hoping for in November. Despite outplaying the Morehead State offense, the Tommeis saw their eight game conference win streak snapped by the Eagles, as they were dealt a 21-7 loss on Saturday. Early on, it looked like it would be a shootout between the two teams, as both St. Thomas and Morehead State scored touchdowns on their first offensive drives of the game. The Tommies, though, were unable to capitalize on red zone scoring chances in the team's lowest scoring game in PFL play this season.
THE OPPOSITION: Drake has looked like the reigning PFL Champions through its first seven games of 2024. The Bulldogs are 6-1 overall and 5-0 in PFL play, rattling off wins against Eastern Washington, San Diego, and Butler already this year. Additionally, Drake is the only undefeated team in the conference and enters Saturday's contest riding a 16-game PFL win streak, having not lost to a conference opponent since October 22, 2022.
GOTTA HAVE HOPE: Yes, we are still making hope puns, but Hope Adebayo is just that good. The senior rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game this past weekend, becoming the first running back in the DI era rush for over 100+ yards in four consecutive games. He is additionally the first St. Thomas running back to achieve the feat since 2019, when Josh Parks rushed for 100+ yards in six consecutive games from October 5 through November 16. Entering Saturday's contest, Adebayo has recorded 11 100+ rush performances in four seasons with the Tommies, including the first of his career vs. Drake on November 13, 2021.
SHORT TERM MEMORY: St. Thomas would really like to forget what happened in Des Moines, Iowa back in 2023. The Tommies suffered (what was then) their worst loss in the DI era, falling to Bulldogs in Drake Stadium by a final score of 52-21. In addition to losing the game, St. Thomas also lost starting quarterback Tak Tateoka for the season, as the first year quarterback suffered a broken leg in the second quarter. The Bulldogs led 24-21 after a close first half but outscored the Tommies 28-0 in the second, as St. Thomas struggled to generate offense without Tateoka at the helm.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Saturday will feature the meeting of the last two PFL Champions. Drake claimed the conference title on the final day of the 2023 season, defeating Butler 13-9 in Indianapolis to claim the conference title. St. Thomas basically did the same thing in 2022. The Tommies went to Indianapolis and beat the Bulldogs 27-13, securing the university's first conference title in the Division I era (of any sport).
FOR ALL THE MARBLES (KINDA, SORTA): Despite St. Thomas' loss to Morehead State, there are still title implications for Saturday's contest. As the last undefeated team in the PFL, a win by Drake would solidify its place atop the conference standings and potentially secure the Bulldogs nothing less than a share of the conference title. However, a win by the Tommies would put St. Thomas, Drake and Morehead State in a three-way tie for first place. The Bulldogs and Eagles square off in Des Moines, Iowa on November 16, setting up plenty of dramatics for the final two weekends of 2024.
NEVER HAVE WE EVER...: Lost to the same PFL team in back-to-back seasons. That's right. Since joining the conference in 2021, the Tommies have never lost to the same PFL team twice, resulting in an impressive 25-4 record in conference play. In 2021, St. Thomas lost to both San Diego and Davidson, closing the year with a 6-2 PFL record. The following season, the Tommies upended both the Toreros and Wildcats and currently own a three-game win streak against San Diego specifically. St. Thomas has additionally never lost more than two PFL games in the same season under head coach Glenn Caruso.
HOME SWEET HOME: Perhaps more impressive? The Tommies have never lost a PFL contest within the confines of O'Shaughnessy Stadium. St. Thomas enters Saturday's game riding a 14-game home field win streak specifically against PFL opponents. This includes wins over every team in the conference except Dayton, whom the Tommies will host for the first time in program history on November 23, the final game of the regular season.
STREAKING: St. Thomas isn't the only team with a streak on the line Saturday afternoon. Drake currently owns the longest conference game win streak in the PFL, having won 16 consecutive games against conference opponents. In fact, the Bulldogs have not lost a PFL game since October 22, 2022, when Davidson handed them a 48-14 loss at Drake Stadium. Since then, Drake has outscored its opponents 382-202 and won one PFL title.
ROCKIN' 30s: St. Thomas scored an average of 37.3 points during the month of October, the team's highest scoring month in the Division I era. The Tommies scored 30+ points in four consecutive games, rattling off wins against Stetson (34-24), Marist (39-32), Valpo (42-14) and San Diego (34-14). St. Thomas did score more points during the month of October during the 2022 season, though the Tommies were aided by an extra game. As a team, St. Thomas scored 186 points through five games in October 2022, including 95 over a two game span against San Diego and Presbyterian.
STANDING IN THE HALL OF FAME: The St. Thomas Athletic Department will honor its 2024 Hall of Fame class at halftime of Saturday's contest. The class includes track and field's Eyo Ekpo (2013), hockey's Drew Fielding (2015) and Becky Kilpatrick Alexander (2006), former head softball coach John Tschida, and the 1990-91 St. Thomas women's basketball team. Tommie football will also honor its 2016 team during halftime, following the Hall of Fame recognition. The 2016 team posted an overall record of 12-1 and won the MIAC with a conference record of 8-0. That season, St. Thomas advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to UW-Oshkosh 34-31.
Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at O'Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota, and should be one of the most competitive games of 2024. St. Thomas enters with a single loss in Pioneer Football League (PFL) play, and a win over undefeated Drake would keep the Tommies hopes at a second conference title alive. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, look to repeat as the PFL Champions, having won the conference title in 2023 after defeating St. Thomas in Des Moines in mid-October.
Tickets are still available for Saturday's contest and can be purchased online at www.tommiesports.com/tickets. Fans who are unable to attend in person can now watch St. Thomas football through Midco Sports Plus and the Midco Sports Plus App. The subscription-based service will provide a digital streaming platform for regular season home St. Thomas football games along with exclusive Tommie and Pioneer Football League (PFL) content, including replays, highlights, interviews, and special feature stories. Subscriptions cost $9.99 per month or $79.99 for an annual plan. Fans can also listen to the call on 1500 ESPN and the Varsity Network App and follow Live Stats on TommieSports.com. Saturday's game will also air on FOX9+.
OPENING KICK: St. Thomas looks to get back in the win column in a big way on Saturday, as the team hosts Drake University for Homecoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at O'Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota.
TUNE IN: Football fans can watch the Tommies on Midco Sports Plus, the Midco Sports Plus App and FOX9+. The subscription-based service will provide a digital streaming platform for regular season home St. Thomas football games along with exclusive Tommie and PFL content, including replays, highlights, interviews, and special feature stories. Fans can also tune in to all St. Thomas football games on 1500 ESPN and the Tommies Sports App. Starting September 3, fans can purchase the Midco Sports All In Package. This package, which will be available September 3, gives fans access to the Summit League Network, CCHA TV and Tommie football games for the cost of $29.99 per month.
LAST TIME OUT: St. Thomas did not get off to the start it was hoping for in November. Despite outplaying the Morehead State offense, the Tommeis saw their eight game conference win streak snapped by the Eagles, as they were dealt a 21-7 loss on Saturday. Early on, it looked like it would be a shootout between the two teams, as both St. Thomas and Morehead State scored touchdowns on their first offensive drives of the game. The Tommies, though, were unable to capitalize on red zone scoring chances in the team's lowest scoring game in PFL play this season.
THE OPPOSITION: Drake has looked like the reigning PFL Champions through its first seven games of 2024. The Bulldogs are 6-1 overall and 5-0 in PFL play, rattling off wins against Eastern Washington, San Diego, and Butler already this year. Additionally, Drake is the only undefeated team in the conference and enters Saturday's contest riding a 16-game PFL win streak, having not lost to a conference opponent since October 22, 2022.
GOTTA HAVE HOPE: Yes, we are still making hope puns, but Hope Adebayo is just that good. The senior rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game this past weekend, becoming the first running back in the DI era rush for over 100+ yards in four consecutive games. He is additionally the first St. Thomas running back to achieve the feat since 2019, when Josh Parks rushed for 100+ yards in six consecutive games from October 5 through November 16. Entering Saturday's contest, Adebayo has recorded 11 100+ rush performances in four seasons with the Tommies, including the first of his career vs. Drake on November 13, 2021.
SHORT TERM MEMORY: St. Thomas would really like to forget what happened in Des Moines, Iowa back in 2023. The Tommies suffered (what was then) their worst loss in the DI era, falling to Bulldogs in Drake Stadium by a final score of 52-21. In addition to losing the game, St. Thomas also lost starting quarterback Tak Tateoka for the season, as the first year quarterback suffered a broken leg in the second quarter. The Bulldogs led 24-21 after a close first half but outscored the Tommies 28-0 in the second, as St. Thomas struggled to generate offense without Tateoka at the helm.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Saturday will feature the meeting of the last two PFL Champions. Drake claimed the conference title on the final day of the 2023 season, defeating Butler 13-9 in Indianapolis to claim the conference title. St. Thomas basically did the same thing in 2022. The Tommies went to Indianapolis and beat the Bulldogs 27-13, securing the university's first conference title in the Division I era (of any sport).
FOR ALL THE MARBLES (KINDA, SORTA): Despite St. Thomas' loss to Morehead State, there are still title implications for Saturday's contest. As the last undefeated team in the PFL, a win by Drake would solidify its place atop the conference standings and potentially secure the Bulldogs nothing less than a share of the conference title. However, a win by the Tommies would put St. Thomas, Drake and Morehead State in a three-way tie for first place. The Bulldogs and Eagles square off in Des Moines, Iowa on November 16, setting up plenty of dramatics for the final two weekends of 2024.
NEVER HAVE WE EVER...: Lost to the same PFL team in back-to-back seasons. That's right. Since joining the conference in 2021, the Tommies have never lost to the same PFL team twice, resulting in an impressive 25-4 record in conference play. In 2021, St. Thomas lost to both San Diego and Davidson, closing the year with a 6-2 PFL record. The following season, the Tommies upended both the Toreros and Wildcats and currently own a three-game win streak against San Diego specifically. St. Thomas has additionally never lost more than two PFL games in the same season under head coach Glenn Caruso.
HOME SWEET HOME: Perhaps more impressive? The Tommies have never lost a PFL contest within the confines of O'Shaughnessy Stadium. St. Thomas enters Saturday's game riding a 14-game home field win streak specifically against PFL opponents. This includes wins over every team in the conference except Dayton, whom the Tommies will host for the first time in program history on November 23, the final game of the regular season.
STREAKING: St. Thomas isn't the only team with a streak on the line Saturday afternoon. Drake currently owns the longest conference game win streak in the PFL, having won 16 consecutive games against conference opponents. In fact, the Bulldogs have not lost a PFL game since October 22, 2022, when Davidson handed them a 48-14 loss at Drake Stadium. Since then, Drake has outscored its opponents 382-202 and won one PFL title.
ROCKIN' 30s: St. Thomas scored an average of 37.3 points during the month of October, the team's highest scoring month in the Division I era. The Tommies scored 30+ points in four consecutive games, rattling off wins against Stetson (34-24), Marist (39-32), Valpo (42-14) and San Diego (34-14). St. Thomas did score more points during the month of October during the 2022 season, though the Tommies were aided by an extra game. As a team, St. Thomas scored 186 points through five games in October 2022, including 95 over a two game span against San Diego and Presbyterian.
STANDING IN THE HALL OF FAME: The St. Thomas Athletic Department will honor its 2024 Hall of Fame class at halftime of Saturday's contest. The class includes track and field's Eyo Ekpo (2013), hockey's Drew Fielding (2015) and Becky Kilpatrick Alexander (2006), former head softball coach John Tschida, and the 1990-91 St. Thomas women's basketball team. Tommie football will also honor its 2016 team during halftime, following the Hall of Fame recognition. The 2016 team posted an overall record of 12-1 and won the MIAC with a conference record of 8-0. That season, St. Thomas advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to UW-Oshkosh 34-31.
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