Saints Fall in Homecoming Contest

NSO NEWS – RELEASE

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team hosted the Oles from St. Olaf today in its homecoming game this afternoon. The Saints trailed by just 10 at half, but the Oles were able to shut down the Saints’ offense, leading to a 37-17 victory over St. Scholastica today.

How it Happened
The Saints opened the game with the ball and although Benjamin Hunter (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) was able to record a 24-yard reception, the St. Olaf defense forced a Saints turnover on downs to start the game.

St. Olaf broke the 0-0 tie not too long later on a touchdown pass, taking an early 7-0 lead over CSS.

The Oles scored again on its next drive, extending its lead to 14-0 in the first quarter.

Nick Schlender (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) began the Saints’ next drive with a pair of runs totaling 25 yards between the two. Later in the drive, Donald West (St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury HS (Iowa Central)) scrambled and found Ricky Weber (Roseville, Minn./Roseville HS) for a 37-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit in half, as the score sat at 14-7.

The Oles took just five plays to go 75 yards on the ensuing drive, and after a botched extra point attempt, the Oles led 20-7, heading into the second quarter.

The Saints were able to find the endzone early in the second quarter on a West pass to Connor Donovan (Maple Plain, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS), making the score 20-14 in favor of St. Olaf.

However, the momentum would not last long, as the Oles took the kickoff to the house, making the score 27-14.

Jacob Andrews (Owatonna, Minn./Medford HS) was able to connect on a 29-yard field goal, capping off a Saints drive that was highlighted by a 58-yard run by Ashton Hain (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis HS), to go into the half trailing 27-17.

St. Olaf scored on its first drive of the second half, capping off an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a touchdown pass, as the lead now sat at 34-17.

Both offenses went cold through the rest of the third quarter, as the score remained 34-17.

The Oles had the ball to end the third quarter, and finished its drive with a field goal to start the fourth quarter, now leading 37-17.

The Saints’ offense could not put together any more drives that lead to points for the rest of the quarter. The defense had a big play when Nathan Miller (Rochester, Minn./Century HS) was able to record an interception and return it for 20 yards.

The Oles were able to milk the rest of the clock, taking today’s action by a score of 37-17.

Hitting the Road
The Saints (2-4, 1-3) will be back in action next week on the road, where they will travel to Northfield to take on Carleton College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.