Saints Move to 3-0

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

 
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team cruised past Crown College 48-14 to extend the win streak to three games for new Head Coach Kurt Ramler.

After falling behind to Crown College 7-0 early in the first quarter, Saints football rallied to score 34 unanswered points in the first half. CSS opened the game with the ball but the drive quickly sputtered due to some costly penalties forcing a punt. Crown was able to capitalize capping a 10-play, 67-yard drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Storm running back Matt Michaud.

Despite giving up an early lead the Saints were able to respond to even the score 7-7 by the end of the first quarter with a long drive. CSS quarterback Tyler Harper (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) took the Saints down the field with a pair of big passing plays to Nick Murphy (Glendale, Ariz./Brophy College Prep ) and Preston Robinson (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS). Running back Chris Gassert (Moose Lake, Minn./Moose Lake HS) finished off the drive with a 2-yard rushing TD.

The second quarter was an offensive explosion for St. Scholastica scoring four touchdowns before the end of the half. The Saints were able to quiet Crown’s run-powered offense by forcing the Storm to play with a long field. CSS pinned Crown inside their own 20-yard line three times in the second quarter. The Saints conversely couldn’t be held off the scoreboard starting with a 9-yard Tyler Harper (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) touchdown pass to Mitch O’Neil (Otsego, Minn./Rogers HS) to take the lead 14-7.

CSS never looked back after taking the lead striking again quickly with an Andrew Smith (Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) 59-yard punt return score making it 20-7 following a blocked extra-point. St. Scholastica would add two more scores before the end of the half. Chris Gassert (Moose Lake, Minn./Moose Lake HS) refused to be tackled on what looked to be a busted play and instead took it 30-yards for his second touchdown of the game. Then Harper found Spencer Specht (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) from 9 yards out for his second passing touchdown completing the half 11-of-20 for 151 yards to go along with a 34-7 lead.

The second half was much of the same for St. Scholastica who continued to dominate Crown on both sides of the ball. Before turning over the game to backup quarterback Kyle Stepka (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS), Harper threw for his third touchdown of the game completing a 12-yard pass to Andrew Smith (Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) to go up 41-7. The Saints offense continued to attack efficiently through the air with Stepka under center, who threw for the first touchdown of his Saints career, finding Spencer Specht (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) for an 8-yard score. CSS closed out the third quarter with a 48-7 lead holding Crown off the scoreboard since their opening drive score at 6:50 of the first quarter.

St. Scholastica made life difficult for the Storm offense forcing three turnovers on the day. Brady Fish (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS ) and Paul Olson (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) each picked off Crown quarterback Brandon McCormick. Alex Mangan (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) forced a fumble that was recovered by CSS and led the defense with nine total tackles. McCormick was able to complete just 13 of his 26 total passing attempts for 77 yards averaging a meager three yards per completion. Matt Michaud added a late score for Crown in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard rush for his second touchdown of the game. Saints football improves to 3-0 on the season with the 48-14 defeat of Crown College.

Next Saturday, St. Scholastica travels to Missouri to take on the Westminster Blue Jays at 1 p.m.