University of St. Thomas Athletics
1-0 , 0-0
Lindenwood
0-1 , 0-0
Tommies open season with 35-13 win over (RV) Lindenwood
8/28/2025 11:00:00 PM | Football
ST. PAUL, MINN. – The University of St. Thomas football team opened the 2025 season with a resounding 35-14 win over (RV) Lindenwood University. The victory is historic in multiple ways, as it counts as the Tommies first win over a Division I scholarship program in the Division I era. It additionally reversed the worst loss in head coach Glenn Caruso's tenure with the program, as the Lions dealt St. Thomas a 64-0 loss in St. Charles, Missouri last season. With the victory, the Tommies open the season with a 1-0 record.
QUICK HITS:
Five different St. Thomas student-athletes scored touchdowns Thursday evening, the most well-rounded offensive performance in a Tommie season opener of the Division I era.
Receiving Touchdowns:
- Patrick Wagner (Crofton, Md. / Archbishop Spauling)
- JaShawn Todd (Atchinson, Kan. / Oaks Christian)
Rushing Touchdowns:
- Joseph Koch (Menomonee Falls, Wis. / Menomonee Falls)
- Stefano Giovannelli (St. Louis Park, Minn. / St. Louis Park)
- Zander Rockow (Eau Claire, Wis. / Regis)
Dating back to 2024, St. Thomas recorded its second consecutive game with a 100-yard passer and 100-yard rusher. Andy Peters (Boise, Idaho / Timberline) was credited with 172 yards and two touchdowns in his Tommie debut, while Koch rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, St. Thomas was led by Ryan Sever's (Edina, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret) 10 tackles, while Nick Hand (Rogers, Minn. / Totino-Grace) recorded eight tackles and one pass break up.
SCORING SUMMARY:
First Quarter: Though Lindenwood threatened three times in the first quarter, the Tommie red zone defense held firm, keeping the score tied 0-0 after the first 15 minutes of play. The Lions missed three field goals in the opening quarter, the first team to do that against St. Thomas in the Division I era.
Second Quarter: The Tommies eventually broke through the scoreless drought, as Peters found Wagner with 5:13 on the clock, giving St. Thomas a 7-0 lead. Lindenwood would tie it up just before the two minute mark, and the two teams went into the locker room at halftime deadlocked at 7-7.
Third Quarter: The Tommies outscored the Lions 14-6 in the third quarter, using trick plays and strong offense alike to hold a 21-13 lead over Lindenwood entering the fourth and final quarter of play. Giovannelli provided the highlight of the evening for St. Thomas fans, as a fake field goal resulted in a Tommie touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
The Lions did cut the lead to 14-13 less than two minutes later, but St. Thomas regained the momentum. Again, the Tommie transfers came up clutch, as Peters found Todd for a 16-yeard touchdown reception and a 21-13 St. Thomas lead.
Fourth Quarter: The Tommies cemented their win by scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, as both Koch and Rockow scored to secure the 35-13 victory.
TOMMIE TIDBITS
- Thursday's victory over Lindenwood was one of many firsts for St. Thomas in the DI era. It was the Tommies first win over a Division I scholarship program since making the jump in 2021 and the first night game win for St. Thomas in that same span.
- Andy Peters (Boise, Idaho / Timberline) is the fifth Tommie quarterback to throw for over 100 yards in the team's season opener. He joins Michael Rostberg (West Fargo, N.D. / Shanley), Amari Powell (Valencia, Calif. / Chaminade College Prep), Cade Sexauer and Tommy Dolan as the quarterbacks to achieve the feat and is the second to do so against a Division I scholarship program. Sexauer through for 207 yards with one touchdown and one interception in St. Thomas' season opening loss to Southern Utah in 2022.
QUOTEABLES
Head coach Glenn Caruso and graduate seniors Andy Peters and Nick Hand after Thursday's win over Lindenwood.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas' schedule does not get any easier in Week 2. The Tommies will travel to Moscow, Idaho to face the #12 Idaho Vandals in their first nationally ranked showdown of 2025. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
LIN 0, UST 7
UST - Wagner,Patrick 19 yd pass from Peters,Andy (Huether,Elliot kick) 5 plays, 78 yards, TOP 02:37
LIN 7, UST 7
LIN - Rhodes,Jared 1 yd run (Graham,Will kick), 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:05
LIN 7, UST 14
UST - Giovannelli,Stefano 8 yd run (Huether,Elliot kick), 7 plays, 48 yards, TOP 02:35
LIN 13, UST 14
LIN - Anthony,John 45 yd pass from Glantz,Nate () 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:10
LIN 13, UST 21
UST - Todd,JaShawn 16 yd pass from Peters,Andy (Huether,Elliot kick) 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 02:13
LIN 13, UST 28
UST - Koch,Joseph 18 yd run (Huether,Elliot kick), 6 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:37
LIN 13, UST 35
UST - Rockow,Zander 3 yd run (Huether,Elliot kick), 10 plays, 40 yards, TOP 06:00
