Notables
-St. Scholastica claims a share of the UMAC title with the victory for the fifth consecutive year and clinches the conference's automatic qualifier.
-Stepka broke the program record with 453 passing yards, just the second time a Saints quarterback has broken 400 yards in the air.
-Thompson's 297 yards receiving also broke the single-game receiving record, making him one of three Saints to ever break 200 yards receiving.
-CSS' 521 yards passing is the first time that the Saints have thrown for over 500 yards in a contest.
-The Saints were just 15 yards shy of breaking the single-game total yards record of 700, and their 744 all-purpose yards total is third highest in a contest.
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica offense exploded on Saturday, breaking a pair of individual offensive records and a team offensive record as the Saints rolled over the Westminster College (Mo.) Blue Jays 48-12 on a wet Halloween afternoon.
Slow Start
After scoring on a 27-yard Mitch O'Neil touchdown reception on the opening drive of the game, the Saints were unable to keep the ball rolling, as both teams would exchange punts on the next four possessions. Westminster was able to score with 32 seconds left in the quarter on a Latif Adams rush, but was unable to convert the extra point, putting the score at 7-6 in favor of the Saints.
Second Quarter Storm
However, it was all CSS from the middle of the second quarter on, as the Saints scored 27 points and allowed just six to blow the game open at 34-12. Just 58 seconds after the Blue Jay touchdown, Chris Gassert rumbled in from 13 yards out to cap off a quick five play drive to put CSS up 14-6. After giving up a touchdown on the following possession to push the score to 14-12, the Saints would put the petal to the metal and never look back. With just under eight minutes left in the half, Nick Murphy caught a 12-yard pass from Kyle Stepka, giving St. Scholastica a 20-12 lead after a failed extra point. However, Hunter Thompson would have his biggest play of the day, taking a 71-yard touchdown pass to the house to put the scoreboard at 27-12. After a quick defensive stop and being pinned deep on their own 12, the Saints would get the ball back with 3:43 left. CSS would march down the field and cap off a 12 play, 88 yard drive with Gassert scoring his second touchdown of the half on a one yard burst. The Saints would take a comfortable 34-12 lead after scoring 21 unanswered points in under 12 minutes.
It Was Over When
Coming out of halftime, the Blue Jays had the ball first and drove inside the CSS 25-yard-line. However, Jason Senger would intercept a Westminster pass inside the 5-yard-line. The Saints proceeded to go 97 yards in 12 plays and the drive was capped off on a Stepka to Thompson connection for 39 yards on a fourth down to make it 41-12 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
Key Team Stats
Total Offense: CSS - 685, Westminster - 289
Passing Yards: CSS - 521, Westminster - 128
Third Down Conversions: CSS – 11/17, Westminster – 3/9
First Downs: CSS – 33, Westminster - 16
Top Performances for CSS
Kyle Stepka had a great day under center for the Saints, completing 23 of 36 passes for 453 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. 297 of those yards were to Hunter Thompson, who had 10 receptions and a pair of scores. Chris Gassert scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 80 yards, averaging nearly seven yards per rush. On the defensive side of the ball, Xavier Rhodes and Joe Geiselman led the way with eight tackles apiece. Jason Senger and Nick Jerhoff both had interceptions as well.
Top Performances for the Opponents
Latif Adams, the conference's leading rusher, had a solid afternoon for the Blue Jays, rushing 26 times for 142 yards and a score. Quarterback Eain Roberts threw for 128 yards and one touchdown. Teddy Deas led the way receiving with five receptions for 45 yards.
Up Next
The Saints (8-1, 8-0 UMAC) will attempt to sweep the conference again next weekend as it travels to Greenville, Illinois to face Greenville College in the final game of the regular season. That game will be played next Saturday at noon.