Running back Jack Kaiser chalked up two touchdowns to propel the No.7-ranked St. Thomas football team to a 21-14 halftime lead over MIAC rival Bethel Saturday afternoon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

Following a respectable kickoff return to their own 45-yard line from wide receiver Charles Johnson, the Royals didn’t take long to score. A 45-yard run from running back Bridgeport Tusler moved Bethel to the 8-yard line, where quarterback Trey Anderson finished off the drive with a rushing score on the next play. This was the first time the Tommies trailed this season.

St. Thomas answered on the following drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown from running back Jack Kaiser. A key fourth down conversion catch by wide receiver Nick Waldvogel around Bethel’s 30-yard line kept the drive alive. The successful extra point by kicker Paul Graupner knotted up the game 7-7 with 7:14 left in the first quarter.

Kaiser’s backfield partner, running back Jordan Roberts, gave the Tommies their first lead of the game with a 10-yard rushing touchdown at the 14:29 mark in the second quarter. Kaiser tallied another touchdown, a 2-yard score, on St. Thomas’ next possession to put the team up 21-7.

Bethel began to chip away at St. Thomas’ 14-point lead with a 29-yard rushing touchdown from Anderson. He took the snap in the shotgun formation but decided to keep it and scored on the quarterback draw without getting touched on his trip to the end zone.

Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.