Lions stifle Tommies in loss

ST. CHARLES, MO. – The lights of St. Louis were not shining kindly on the University of St. Thomas football team. In their first road game of the 2024 season, the Tommies faced a tough opponent in Lindenwood University, their fourth consecutive game against the scholarship program. Already with a shortened roster due to injury, St. Thomas was unable to leave Missouri with a victory, falling by a final score of 64-0.

RECAP:
St. Thomas did not get off to the best of starts on Saturday, as a series of unfortunate events resulted in an early 7-0 lead for Lindenwood. On their second offensive possession, the Tommies seemingly converted on third and short, as Michael Rostberg (West Fargo, N.D. / Shanley) found Patrick Wagner (Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) for the first down. Unfortunately, the play was overturned on a challenge by a Lion, forcing St. Thomas to bring out punter Elliot Huether (Minnetonka, Minn. / Minnetonka) for a second time. Heuther's punt was blocked, and Lindenwood covered the ball in the end zone, resulting in the early 7-0 lead.

The Tommies looked to answer with points of their own on the next offensive possession, but Rostberg was picked off, once again giving the Lions the ball on the 50 yard line. St. Thomas' defense held firm, forcing a three-and-out by Lindenwood to keep the deficit at just seven points.

Down 7-0 early, Amari Powell (Valencia, Calif./ Chaminade College Prep) made his 2024 season debut at quarterback, looking to generate some offense for the Tommies. The Lions defense, though, was utterly stifling, resulting in a 7-0 lead for the Loins at the end of the first quarter. Things did not go much better in the second, as Lindenwood extended its lead to 14-0 just seconds in on a 51-yard rush by Cortezz Jones.

With Powell behind the line of scrimmage, St. Thomas looked to threaten in the second quarter, but the Tommies were never able to find the end zone. Instead., it was the Lions that continued to generate scoring opportunities, resulting in a 42-0 Lindenwood halftime lead.

In the end, St. Thomas was never able to make up the 42 point deficit or find the back of the end zone. Despite a better offensive showing in the second half, the Lindenwood defense proved stalwart, while the offense continued to extend the home team's double digit lead. In the end, the scholarship Lions proved too much for the Tommies in the 64-0 loss.

TOP TOMMIES

Joseph Koch (Menomonee Falls, Wis. / Menomonee) led the team in rushing yards for the second consecutive week, closing the game with 41 total yards gained.
Peyton Himley (Edina, Minn. / Edina) led the team with seven tackles Saturday afternoon.

INJURY UPDATE
The Tommies were without several key starters Saturday afternoon, including top offensive weapons Hope Adebayo (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley), Gabriel Abel (Trenton, N.J. / Salisbury School) and Jacob Wildermuth (Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata). Defensively, St. Thomas was without C.J. Warren (Circle Pines, Minn./ Centennial), Emmanuel Olagbaju (Osseo, Minn. / Osseo) and Branden Smith (Las Vegas, Nev. / Cimarron-Memorial).

UP NEXT
The Tommies are off and will enjoy a much earned bye the weekend of September 28. St. Thomas will return to action on October 5 when the team hosts Stetson in its first Pioneer Football League (PFL) game of the 2024 season. Kickoff is schedule 1:00 p.m. at O'Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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Team Stats

Michael Rostberg

Amari Powell

Players Mentioned

Gabriel Abel

Hope Adebayo

Peyton Himley

Elliot Huether

Joseph Koch

Emmanuel Olagbaju

Amari Powell

Michael Rostberg

Branden Smith

Patrick Wagner

C.J. Warren

Jacob Wildermuth

University of St. Thomas Athletics