Hoping to extend its win streak in regular season finales to six games, the No. 22-ranked St. Thomas football team will conclude the 2014 MIAC schedule when it faces Gustavus Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

The Tommies have not dropped three games in a year since 2008 – coach Glenn Caruso’s first at St. Thomas – and will likely need both Bethel and St. John’s to lose to vault into playoff position.

“Is there an opportunity for us to be in the playoffs? Yes. If we are, that’s great; but if we’re not, we know it’s of our own volition and doing,” Caruso said. “The only way for us to have that opportunity is to produce on Saturday.”

The Tommies will look to shut down the Gusties’ much-heralded passing game and slow down prolific quarterback Mitch Hendricks. Hendricks leads the MIAC in nearly every passing category this year and has already topped 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season.

“(Hendricks is a) coach’s kid and a great leader,” Caruso said. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s having the type of success that he is.”

In addition to Hendricks, Gustavus boasts two of the nation’s premier pass catchers in wide receivers Matt and Gabriel Boyce. Matt leads the MIAC with 1,079 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, while Gabriel leads the conference with 82 receptions. Both receivers average more than 11 yards per catch, but Caruso said the brothers are more than just deep threats.

“They are both tremendously athletic and stretch the field,” Caruso said. “The first thing that comes to mind is how they push it vertically, but they do a good job stretching the field horizontally, working the second level and flat areas.”

Stopping the Gusties’ pass-catching duo has proven difficult for multiple MIAC teams this season – Hendricks has topped 280 passing yards in eight of Gustavus’ nine games – but defensive back Mozus Ikuenobe said the Tommies have the capability to do so.

“(We need to) be sound in our technique, watch film and know their weaknesses and strengths,” Ikuenobe said. “Ultimately, I think we have the athletes to do it. It’s just a matter of really focusing on what needs to be done and executing.”

A chance of snow and temperatures in the 20s are expected on Saturday, but Caruso said the Tommies can’t assume the Gusties will shy away from airing the ball out.

“I think they’re going to do what they normally do because they’ve had success with it,” Caruso said. “In many cases, it’s actually the wind that affects your play selection, certainly more than rain, sleet or snow.”

Caruso added that the Tommies are well-prepared for inclement weather conditions themselves.

“We’ve played a lot of late season and postseason games in the past, so it’s not that new to us. Plus, we’re a Minnesota team so it can’t shock us too much to get snow in November,” Caruso said. “Hats off to a guy like Roger Weinbrenner who handles our turf … getting all the snow off it is a huge job, and he’s busting his butt to make sure the field is in prime shape.”

If Gustavus slings the ball around the field and attempts to make the game a high-scoring and fast-paced one, running back Jack Kaiser said St. Thomas will need to stick to its game plan to control the momentum.

“We just want to run the ball and stick to our game plan,” Kaiser said. “We know they like to pass a lot, so we can slow the game down by running the ball.”

Saturday’s matchup will mark the final regular season contest for 17 seniors on the roster. The Tommies have won 42 playoff and regular season games combined over the four seasons this year’s senior class has played at St. Thomas. One senior, tight end Cole Kelly, said he couldn’t think about the meaning behind Saturday’s game at this point, though.

“We have an awesome opportunity to come out Saturday and play with a bunch of guys we love playing with,” Kelly said. “For me, I’m not trying to think too far into what this game means … I’m more focused on getting another chance to play with my brothers.”

Caruso said the game is important as a sendoff for this year’s senior class and added that he could only think of one fitting way to do so.

“In my opinion, the best way we honor our seniors is with how we play,” Caruso said. “We give everything we can because these are guys that have given all they can for four years.”

Tom Pitzen can be reached at pitz2014@stthomas.edu.