Quarterback Ronnie Jones and coach Glenn Caruso celebrate following Saturday’s 14-13 win over Gustavus. Jones was put into the game in the third quarter and had two total touchdowns. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Lineback Adam Brant hauls in a game-sealing interception with two minutes left against Gustavus. Brant had two pass breakups and four tackles in addition to the pick. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Gustavus wide receiver Jamison Beulke evades the Tommie defense for a touchdown. Beulke tallied 89 yards and the touchdown on 11 receptions. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Gustie wide receiver Ellis Herman wrestles the ball from Tommie defensive back Michael Franzese. Herman was one of two Gustavus wideouts with a touchdown. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Wide receiver Gabe Green tumbles into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. Green’s touchdown and the following PAT gave the Tommies their first and only lead of the game. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Gustavus defensive back Brady Miller steps in front of Tommie tight end Grant Slavik for an interception. Miller’s pick pushed starting quarterback Jacques Perra out of the game. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Defensive back Michael Franzese runs back an interception. Franzese recorded one of three picks for the Tommies. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Gustavus wide receiver Ellis Herman reaches full extension for a touchdown. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Defensive lineman Luke Swenson bats a pass at the line of scrimmage. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Gustavus wide receiver Brice Panning hauls in a pass over defensive back Michael Franzese. Panning was the Gusties’ leading receiver with 158 yards on six receptions. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Gustavus defensive back Jordan Kahlow intercepts quarterback Jacques Perra near the goal line. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
Halfback Josh Parks extends a stiff arm against a Gustavus defender. Parks gained 114 yards on 25 carries. (Noah Brown/TommieMedia)
ST. PETER, Minn. – After three quarters Saturday at Hollingsworth field, the No. 7 St. Thomas football team was on the verge of a two-loss season for the first time in four years.
Down 13-0 entering the final frame, the Tommies (6-1 MIAC, 8-1 overall) had mustered 157 yards of total offense against Gustavus (4-3 MIAC, 5-4 overall). Josh Parks, the MIAC’s leading rushing, was limited to 79.
Over it’s final two possessions, however, St. Thomas almost doubled its yardage, ran nearly 10 minutes off the game clock and, most importantly, scored two touchdowns to secure a 14-13 victory over the Gusties.
“First and foremost, I’m real proud of the guys,” coach Glenn Caruso said. “We made a conscious effort, with about five minutes left in the game, to say, ‘we’re not going to try and make this a two possession game, we’re going to do what we do and give our guys the best shot to win.’”
The Tommies were able to do what they do best; on fourth down, trailing 13-7 with just under 2:30 left, quarterback Ronnie Jones found wide receiver Gabe Green for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
“There’s never a moment in time where we lost to confidence in this victory,” Jones said. “There was never a time where we dropped our heads on the sideline, we were as confident as we always are until the last second.”
Jones had replaced starting quarterback Jacques Perra after the first drive of the third quarter. Perra had completed 10 of 17 passes for 54 yards and two interceptions.
Despite locking down the Gusties rushing game with a total of minus-27 yards and snagging two interceptions, the Tommie defense yielded 335 yards to Gusties quarterback Michael Veldman and two touchdowns. Veldman ended the first half with 239 yards and the two touchdowns.
When it mattered most, though, the Tommie defense held. On Gustavus’ final drive of the game, after marching his team 47 yards to the Tommie 29-yard line, Veldman threw his second interception of the game to linebacker Adam Brant.
“We were saying that all game long, ‘we just need that one big play to turn this around,’” Brant said. “It just so happened that I got put in that position, I saw it coming, and stepped in front of it. I’m glad I held onto it.”
Halfback Josh Parks, usually the focal point of this year’s squad, was kept out of the endzone for the first time this season. He led the Tommies’ ground game with 114 yards on 25 attempts. Caruso said the team’s ability to win without a score from Parks will be a learning point moving forward.
“A dynamic team is one that finds different ways to win,” Caruso said. “We’re built for this time of year, and our guys are going to be able to draw from that in the future.”
With the win, the Tommies remained tied with Bethel (6-1 MIAC, 8-1 overall), who they face next week in the final game of the regular season.
Bethel is always the one our (players) circle on their calendars,” Caruso said. “We can’t wait.”
Noah Brown can be reached at brow7736@stthomas.edu.
Matthew Curry can be reached at curr1523@stthomas.edu.