Justice Spriggs passed for 475 yards and threw six touchdown passes, but Hamline (3-0 overall, 1-0 MIAC) needed a free kick and a final defensive play to edge Gustavus Adolphus 42-40 at Hamline’s Klas Field.
MIAC SCOREBOARD
- St. Thomas 33, St. John’s 21
- Bethel 44, St. Olaf 7
- Hamline 42, Gustavus 40
- Augsburg 49, Carleton 17
The Pipers have won three games in a row for the first time since 1997. The last time they won their first three games of the season was 1988.
Spriggs, a sophomore, broke the Hamline passing yardage record by 100 yards. He connected with Josiah Harris three times for touchdowns in the first half.
Gustavus (3-1, 1-1) scored twice and led 31-21 lead after three quarters. Spriggs passed 32 yards to Deon Bishop to cut the lead to 31-28 with 12:56 remaining. With less than 5 minutes to go, Spriggs hit Nick Kampa from 4 yards out to make it 35-31 Hamline. Kampa caught seven passes for 112 yards.
Gustavus responded with an 82-yard scoring pass from Christian Haffner to Jamison Beulke to lead 38-35. The Pipers drove 67 yards in six plays, with Spriggs finding Harrison Jones on fourth and 14 at the GAC 28 for a 42-38 lead with 1:35 remaining, the seventh time the lead had changed hands.
Zach Schwalbach intercepted for Hamline at its own 12, but Gustavus held on downs. Hamline coach Chip Taylor decided to take a safety rather than risk a punt, making the score 42-40.
Kyle Johnson boomed the free kick to the Gustie 17. Gustavus advanced to the Hamline 42, but a last pass was batted down.
Spriggs leads MIAC passers at 348.7 yards a game. He completed 29 of 41 against Gustavus.
Augsburg 49, Carleton 17
Sam Kels pass for 205 passing yards and three touchdowns and the Augsburg defense forced five turnovers in the Auggies’ homecoming victory in Minneapolis.
Augsburg (1-3, 1-1) intercepted Carleton (0-3, 0-2) twice and recovered three fumbles, with four of the turnovers leading to Auggie touchdowns. Isiah Malone returned an interception 25 yards for his second touchdown of the season with 5:31 left in the first quarter.
Bethel 44, St. Olaf 7
Bethel (1-3, 1-1) gained 531 yards, 379 rushing, to crush St. Olaf (1-3, 0-2) in Northfield.
Bridgeport Tusler carried 20 times for 156 yards, and Brady Bomsta ran 20 times for 122 yards as Bethel averaged 5.8 yards on 65 running plays.
Josh Werness carried only nine carries for 24 yards but scored two touchdowns.
The Bethel defense held St. Olaf to minus-4 yards rushing on 26 attempts.