Notables
-Olson records a TD reception for the 18th consecutive UMAC game
-CSS wins sixth straight home opener
-Buthe has a career-high 11 receptions
-CSS opens 2-0 in the UMAC for the eighth straight season
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team trailed 13-3 midway through the third quarter before it scored 20 consecutive points and held off Westminster College (Mo.) 23-20 on Saturday at Public Schools Stadium.
How it Happened
The Saints had the ball to open the game and drove the ball into the red zone, but would miss a 33-yard field goal attempt. The teams then exchanged punts for the next eight possessions.
The Blue Jays (102, 1-1 UMAC) finally got things going on the ground with their second drive of the second quarter, but it would be a Trent White to Lucas Robinson 14-yard reception that put Westminster in front 7-0. On the ensuing possession, the Saints moved the ball inside Westminster's 25-yard-line, but would be stopped short on a fourth down attempt.
After a three-and-out, the Saints once again moved the ball into red zone, this time getting inside the 5-yard-line, but would settle for a Donovan Blatz (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) 20-yard field goal to make the halftime score 7-3 Blue Jays.
Westminster proceeded to take the opening possession of the second half down the field and was culminated by a White 23-yard TD run to extend the lead to 13-3 after a blocked PAT.
The Saints were finally able to reach the end zone two drives later when Zach Edwards (St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) found Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) for an 18-yard touchdown, where Olson was just able to get a foot down in-bounds. That touchdown also gave him 30 for his career, which matches a program record. However, CSS would have their PAT blocked and Blue Jays held a 13-9 lead after three quarters of play.
On St. Scholastica's first drive of the fourth quarter, the Saints would get a pass interference call on fourth-and-9 to extend the drive. Later in the drive with CSS at the 9-yard-line, they faced another fourth down. This time Edwards delivered with his legs, scrambling free and finding the end zone to give the Saints their first lead of the game at 16-13.
After a punt by the Blue Jays, the Saints quickly marched down the field and Teddy Gildersleeve (Osceola, Wis./Osceola HS) scored on an 18-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 23-13 with less than five minutes remaining.
However, Westminster answered quickly thanks to a 61-yard run that setup a White 7-yard touchdown to make it a three-point game again at 23-20 with 3:44 remaining.
The Saints would not allow the Blue Jays to touch the ball again, however, as Gildersleeve ran for four yards on a third-and-3 and Edwards sealed the victory by scrambling again for first down on third-and-9 as the Saints improved to 2-0 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play with a 23-20 victory.
Key Stats
Passing Yards: CSS-262, WC-79
4th Quarter Time of Possession: CSS-10:21, WC-4:39
Total Offense: CSS-411, WC-304
Punts: CSS-7 for 311, WC-10 for 360
Top Performers for the Saints
Edwards was 26-of-47 for 262 yards and one touchdown pass. Edwards also ran for 59 yards. Gildersleeve, who replaced an injured Jeff LeMay (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) early in the game, ran for a team-high 77 yards and one touchdown. Ben Buthe (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS), who missed last week's game, had a career-high 11 receptions for 84 yards. Eddie Lee (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) added seven receptions for 77 yards.
Jonathan Senger (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) led the defense with a game-high 11 tackles. Quinten McGregor(Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) had seven tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and a sack.
Top Performers for the Opponents
Quarterback Trent White threw for 79 yards and also ran for 51 yards and two scores. Kalyn Davis rushed for 109 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter.
Robert Weirich led the Blue Jay defense with 10 tackles. Jerrid Moore had three tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
Up Next
The Saints (2-1, 2-0 UMAC) head on the road next Saturday where they will face Martin Luther College. The Knights and Saints will enter with identical 2-1 records overall. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.