The football team holds up the MIAC plaque after they defeated St. Olaf on Saturday. St.Thomas has been the MIAC champion 18 times. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Senior defensive lineman Luke Herman enters the game after Hodgkin’s Lymphoma sidelined him for his senior season. Herman is one of the captains of the St. Thomas football team this season. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Quarterback Robert Petitjean gets tackled near the St.Thomas end zone. St. Thomas defeated St. Olaf 73-7. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Junior offensive lineman Jaxon Lind snaps the ball to quarterback Gabe Green. Green completed two passes in Saturday’s game. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Senior fullback Mike Coldagelli carries the ball into the end zone. Coldagelli scored his second touchdown of the season Saturday against the Oles. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Freshman wide receiver Vinny Pallini kicks a field goal. Pallini scored a 97-yard touchdown on that play. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Running back Emitt Peisert carries the ball down the field. Peisert scored one touchdown against St. Olaf on Saturday. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Junior kicker Bryan Steinsapir lines up for a field goal. Steinsapir kicked a 46-yard field goal in the first half of Saturday’s game. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Sophomore running back Tucker Trettel carries the ball down field. Trettel rushed 106 yards in Saturday’s game against St. Olaf. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Freshman running back Josh Parks reaches into the end zone to score for the Tommies. Parks had two touchdowns against the Oles on Saturday. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Senior defensive linebacker Anthony King-Foreman sacks the St. Olaf quarterback Ricardo Johnson III. King-Foreman had three tackles against the Oles. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Caruso’s Crew lifts up one of the members for every point the Tommies scored. Caruso’s Crew is made up of the St. John Vianney seminarians. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Junior defensive end Jackson Hull fights off St. Olaf defensive back Max Karpinske. Hull had one touchdown against the Oles Saturday. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Sophomore lineback Adam Brant tackles St. Olaf’s quarterback in the first defensive play of Saturday’s game. Brant had two tackles against the Oles. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
Running back Josh Parks pushes off a St. Olaf defender as he carries the ball down the field. Parks had 110 rushing yards for the Tommies in the first half. (Meghan Vosbeek/TommieMedia)
The fourth-ranked St. Thomas football team secured sole possession of the MIAC Championship title and its second straight undefeated regular season with its 73-7 victory over St. Olaf Saturday afternoon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
MIAC STANDINGS (FINAL)
| St. Thomas | 8-0 | 10-0 |
| St. John’s | 7-1 | 9-1 |
| Concordia | 6-2 | 7-3 |
| Bethel | 5-3 | 5-5 |
| Hamline | 3-5 | 5-5 |
| Gustavus | 3-5 | 5-5 |
| Augsburg | 2-6 | 2-6 |
| St. Olaf | 1-7 | 2-8 |
| Carleton | 1-7 | 1-9 |
MIAC SCOREBOARD
- St. John’s 31, Concordia 7
- Bethel 17, Hamline 14
- Gustavus 38, Carleton 21
- St. Thomas 73, St. Olaf 7
- END OF REGULAR SEASON
The Tommies celebrated two victories Saturday: the success of their 26 seniors and of defensive lineman Luke Hermann, who took the field for the first time this season after being diagnosed in July with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Hermann said having the opportunity to play in the last game of the regular season was a great experience and one he never thought would happen.
Coach Glenn Caruso said seeing the sideline erupt as Hermann ran onto the field was well deserved and an unforgettable experience.
“It’s just a culmination and recognition of a battle that he’s fighting that is tougher than any battle that anyone else in our program is fighting,” Caruso said.
Hermann and his 25 fellow seniors have helped continue the football legacy and built culture within the program.
Caruso said senior leadership is imperative.
“These 26 guys, they’re great football players, but more importantly they are amazing young men, beautiful people and they work so hard,” Caruso said. “They have put an effort forward that I am glad we can honor today.”
The Tommies gained 536 yard to 124 yards for the Oles behind a dominant run game and efficient passing.
Running backs Tucker Trettel and Josh Parks each added more than 100 rushing yards.
Tight end Jackson Hull trotted into the endzone on a 53-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Fenske to start the scoring for the Tommies with 10:42 to play in the first quarter.
Wide receiver Vinny Pallini took a kickoff 96 yards to the house with 13:26 left in the game. He also successfully kicked the extra point.
Pallini said everyone on the team did their job, which allowed him to have a successful return.
St. Olaf quarterback Jack Goldstein connected with Khayleb Willis for the only Ole touchdown of the game with 13:39 left in the fourth quarter.
Running backs Jeremy Molina, Josh Parks, Tucker Trettel and Emitt Peisert, quarterback Gabe Green, fullback Mike Coldagelli and wide receiver Luke Iverson all added touchdowns.
The Tommies will learned their fate Sunday evening during the postseason selection show and will resume play next weekend in the NCAA tournament.
“There is a vibrance and a rhythm to the playoffs that is unlike anything else,” Caruso said. “I think some of it is the uncertainty of the teams you’re playing. Some it is is the it is a must win game, and there is something very intimate about that.”
Check TommieMedia for postseason football coverage.
Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.