Univ. of St. Thomas 5-Game Football Notes -- Oct. 15

October 15, 2009

--GAME 6: Off to its best season start since 1997, No. 15-ranked St. Thomas (5-0 overall, 4-0 MIAC) plays Sat. Oct. 17 at St. John's (6-0, 4-0). Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.

--AT STAKE: Saturday's game should provide another lively chapter in a football rivalry that began in 1901. Both teams share the MIAC lead at 4-0. The last time the teams came into this meeting unbeaten in the second half of the season was 1942.

--FOLLOW: All Tommie games this year will have live audio or video and/or live stats. You can access the UST audio webcast here: www.mnsportsnetwork.com. The game can be heard on radio in the Twin Cities on the Johnnie network at 1330 AM.

--THE COACHES: Glenn Caruso is 18-15 in three seasons, including a 12-3 mark at St. Thomas... John Gagliardi is 467-125-11 in 61 seasons of coaching, including a 443-119-10 mark in 57 seasons with St. John's. Gagliardi has faced 73 different head football coaches in the MIAC in his 57 seasons in the conference.

--TICKETS & PARKING: There's no advance ticket sale on the St. Thomas campus, but the stadium has plenty of seats and standing room to absorb spectators.

Click here for ticket/parking/map information for Saturday's game from St. John's athletic website:

Visitor's Guide: http://www.gojohnnies.com/sports/2008/7/15/Visitors%20Guide.aspx?tab=visitorsguide

Ticket Information: http://www.gojohnnies.com/sports/2008/7/15/GENERAL_Ticket%20Information.aspx?tab=ticketinformation

--LAST MEETING: Despite holding St. John's to 34 passing yards and 182 yards of total offense, St. Thomas lost 12-9 last season at home to SJU. UST trails the all-time series 48-28-1. UST's last win in Collegeville was in 1986, and the Toms have lost 11 in a row to the Johnnies... Ten of the last 25 meetings have been decided by seven or less points... UST has outgained the Johnnies in total offense in each of the last two meetings.

--HOME FIELD: St. John's is 53-5 this decade at home... The Tommies had lost six consecutive games on campus in 2006 and 2007, but are 7-1 at Palmer Field since Glenn Caruso became head coach in 2008.

--DID YOU KNOW?: In 15 career games, Tommie sophomore WR Fritz Waldvogel has 14 gains of 38 or more yards in receptions and returns... John Gagliardi already had 159 coaching wins by the time Glenn Caruso was born in 1974... UST's Ben Wartman has 247 consecutive touches without a fumble, and UST running backs haven't lost a fumble in six games... In UST's seven-game win streak, sophomore RB Colin Tobin has eight TDs and has rushed for 664 yards (8.2 ypc)... UST soph QB Greg Morse is 6-0 on his career as a starter and has passed for 1,023 yards in those six games... KSTP-TV will air brief interviews with Coach Caruiso and Ben Wartman, Friday Oct. 16, on its 6 or 6:30 p.m. newscast.

--LAST WEEK: After falling behind 7-0 in the first 90 seconds, the Tommies outscored Concordia 31-3 over the next 3 1-2 quarters and won 31-17. The Toms blocked a punt, recorded eight sacks, and had three interceptions and a fumble recovery... SJU rolled to a 41-7 win over Hamline, with the lone points allowed on a blocked punt and return.

--SCOUTING THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies start eight seniors on defense. They are one of the few college teams thus far in 2009 to post four road victories... Since losing in October 2008 at Bethel, they have won 11 consecutive regular-season games... Seven different players have their last nine TDs, and no SJU player has more than four touchdowns through six game... The Johnnies have trailed in the fourth quarter against UW-River Falls (28-24 win), UW-Eau Claire (35-27 win) and Bethel (16-14 win)... They average 31.5 points and 21 first downs a game. They have surrendured 291 yards a game on defense, including 195 passing yards... All-America candidate Russel Gliadon won the Bethel game with a school-record 49-yard field goal with :03 remaining. On the season he's 3-for-6 in field goals and 22-of-24 in PATs.

For more on St. John's, click here: www.gojohnnies.com ; at the St. Cloud Times website: http://www.sctimes.com/section/SPORTS; or on their fan website: www.johnniefootball.com

--STREAKS: St. Thomas' seven-game winning streak dating to November 2008 is the fourth longest current in win streak in Division III behind Mt. Union (20), Trinity (Ct.) (13) and Centre (Ky.) (10).

--SCORING: St. Thomas is on pace to break its season scoring record of 33.5 ppg. The Tommies have 31 touchdowns in five games -- tied for fourth most in Division III. Junior running back Ben Wartman has scored 27 touchdowns in 15 career games at running back, including 14 this season, and ranks first nationally in scoring. Wartman went over 2,000 career rushing/receiving yards On Oct. 3, and has 1,971 rushing yards in 15 games. Since Coach Glenn Caruso debuted as head coach in 2008, St. Thomas leads all MIAC teams in ppg (32.4), first downs a game (21) and total offense per game (403).

--STAT WATCH: St. Thomas ranks in the top 30 nationally in several Division III categories in season statistics through games of Oct. 10.

In team stats, the 5-0 Tommies rank 16th in rushing offense (257.6); seventh in scoring (44.0 ppg); 19th in total offense (465.2 ypg); sixth in third-down conversion offense (54%); 14th in total defense (248.8), 10th in pass efficiency defense, and 20th in scoring defense (13.8 ppg). UST is also among 23 teams with one or less fumbles lost, and one of 12 teams with two or less sacks allowed.

Individually, junior RB Wartman is 11th in rushing (132.0 ypg), first in scoring (18.6 ppg) and 26th in all-purpose yards (158.6 ypg). Sophomore KR-WR Fritz Waldvogel is ninth in all-purpose yards (182.80 ypg), first in punt returns (22.7ypr), 27th in receiving yards per game (103) and 26th in receptions per game (7.6).

--TURNOVERS: St. Thomas has only committed seven turnovers in five games thus far in 2009... The 2007 Tommie committed 31 turnovers in eight losses and finished minus-13 on the season in takeways. The Toms also had three punts blocked, with two returned for touchdowns. In 2008's 7-3 record, UST had a plus-6 turnover ratio... One season before Caruso's hiring as Macalester's head coach, in 2005, the Scots had a minus-26 turnover ratio in an 0-9 finish. In 2007, Macalester had a plus-2 turnover ratio and finished 4-5.

Good Works

--GOOD WORKS: UST senior Jeffrey Hilliard (below, center) was among 22 college football players named to the 2009 Allstate Good Works Team by the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA). Eleven Division I players, plus 11 players from Division I-AA, II and III are honored each year for exceptional campus and community service... St. Thomas has had a Good Works honoree all 12 years that the program has included non-Division I players. The 12 in a row is the longest streak in college football, and the Toms' 12 honorees is tied for the most with Georgia. Read more: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/Hilliard_9-22.html

PHOTO: Coach Caruso and Good Works winners Jeffrey Hilliard (22) and past recipient Andrew Hilliard.

--WARTMAN WATCH: In his last 13 games, Ben Wartman has surpassed 100 rushing yards 12 times. The lone game he missed the milestone was last fall against St. John's, where he rushed for 90 yards... In 15 career games at running back, Wartman has 1,971 yards and 27 touchdowns, and has helped UST win 12 of 15 games. St. Thomas is 11-1 on his career when Wartman surpasses 100 rushing yards -- the lone loss came at Augsburg when Wartman rushed for 300 yards... On Sept. 21, Wartman was named MIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in the last two seasons. Wartman scored three second-half touchdowns (nine, 27 and 59 yards) to help the Tommies rally past previously-unbeaten St. Olaf, 27-16. He rushed for 134 of his 176 yards in the second half to help UST erase a 13-7 halftime deficit... Facing a St. Olaf unit that came into the game ranked first in NCAA Division III in rushing defense at minus-53 net yards in two games, Wartman had 210 yards of total offense. He caught two passes for 34 yards, including a go-ahead 27-yard touchdown with 5:20 remaining. He also rushed 24 times for 176 yards, capped by a 59-yard scoring run with 2:50 left that extended the lead to two scores.

--QUICK HITS: The Tommies and St. John's are the lone MIAC unbeatens... UST now has 50 touchdowns in its last nine games dating back to last October, including 20 TDs by junior RB Ben Wartman and eight by sophomore KR-WR Fritz Waldvogel... In the Hamline victory, Waldvogel became the 20th Tommie to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards. He now has 1,232 yards in 15 games... UST junior linebacker Tony Danna is out for the season with an injury... LB Willy Baregi had three tackles for loss in the Sept. 19 St. Olaf win. He's the grandson of UST Cigar Bowl player Bill Anderson... UST has a seven-game win streak, and has outscored opponents 156-48 in the first half of those games... In their last six games, St. Thomas has outscored foes 262-69 and allowed just six defensive TDs... The 63 points on Sept. 26 at HU tied a modern school record set 20 years ago, and the nine offensive touchdowns were a UST first... The 54 points against Macalester on Sept. 5 were the most scored by St. Thomas in a season-opener in 95 years. The 1914 Tommies beat a team from UW-Oshkosh 67-0 in their first game...  Senior Sam Moen needs six yards to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. Moen has nine TDs, 86 catches for 994 yards and 469 return yards on his career... Over the last seven seasons, St. Thomas is 6-0 when it gets a kick or punt return to the end zone, and 0-4 in games when it gives up a punt-KO return touchdown... UST has 135 players with the addition of 24 who joined the team when classes began... Tommie fans won’t have to travel far this season. St. Thomas’ longest regular-season trip will be the Oct. 17 trek to Collegeville to play rival St. John’s. The Toms’ first five contests will include Sept. 5 and Sept. 26 Snelling Avenue games at Macalester and at Hamline, plus home games on Sept. 19 (vs. St. Olaf) and Oct. 3 and 10 (against Gustavus and Concordia-Moorhead).

--REDSHIRT RULING:  The MIAC presidents voted recently to change the conference policy of
recognizing past redshirts. The change brings our conference in line with other Division III leagues around the nation. Student athletes who practiced but didn¹t compete at a previous school (usually in Division I or II scholarship programs) previously burned that year of eligibility when they came into an MIAC program. The new rule gives current and future transfers in those situations the option of restoring that unused year of game competition. As an example, if a player was held out of games in his
freshman year as a Division II school then came into our conference the next year, he was a sophomore in eligibility. The rule change now makes that player a freshman in eligibility. That year of eligibility is restored for all transfers, even if it happened earlier this decade.

--WHAT IT MEANS: For UST coach Glenn Caruso, the redshirt change affects seven players who now will have the option to play one additional season. Five starters who were previously listed as seniors are now juniors in eligibility -- All-American center Josh Ostrue; All-West Region defenders Brady Ervin and Tommy Becker; All-MIAC linebacker Zach Sturm; and three-year starting safety Bryan Villar.

--RECORD DAY: St. Thomas placekicker Brady Beeson (SR-Burnsville/Apple Valley) was named MIAC football's Special Teams Player of the Week on both Oct. 12 and on Sept. 28. He's the first Tommie kicker since 2004 to receive the award... Beeson tied a school record as he converted 9-for-9 PAT kicks in a 63-10 win over Hamline on Sept. 26. His kicking helped UST tie its high single-game point total over the last 95 seasons. On Oct. 10, Beeson made his first collegiate field goal, a 31-yarder, and added 4-of-4 PATs in the win over Concordia-Moorhead. A transfer from St. John's, Beeson had just eight career points entering the HU game. He's now made 25-of-26 PAT kicks in five games with St. Thomas... Only a few MIAC kickers have ever tried and made nine or more PATs in one game. Chip Connelly of St. Thomas set the UST record wiih an 8-for-8 game in 1982. Jim Libera broke that record in 1989 as he made 9-of-9 in a win at Augsburg. Only a few MIAC kickers have ever tried and made nine or more PATs in one game. Besides Libera and Beeson, Paul Fortman of St. Olaf made 11-of-11 in a 2007 win over Carleton; St. John's Jeff Norman made 10-of-10 in a 1976 win over Macalester; and Concordia's Brian Halverson made 9-of-9 in a 2002 Metrodome game against UST. 

--MORE TOMMIE HONORS 2: UST' defesnive lineman Cyrus Allen was named this week to the national Division III Team of the Week by D3Football.com after he had three sacks and helped limit Concordia-Moorhead to 219 yards of offense last Saturday... St. Thomas' five interior offensive linemen were chosen for the national Division III Team of the Week by D3Football.com after their contributions in the 27-16 win over St. Olaf on Sept. 19... Center Josh Ostrue (JR-South St. Paul), guards Jon Curtis (SO-Shell Lake, Wis.) and Ben Katzner (SR-Albany), and tackles Justyn Helgeson (SR-Farmington) and Chad VanderGriff (SO-Eagan) helped propel Tommie running back Ben Wartman (JR-Prior Lake) score three second-half touchdowns and post a 176-yard rushing game against the previously-unbeaten St. Olaf... The Oles came into the game ranked first nationally in Division III rushing defense with a net minus-53 yards allowed over their first two games... The solid line play has helped the Tommies post 13 100-plus yard rushing games in the last 11 outings... Those five linemen, along with backups Dan Chapman and Curtis James, have helped the 2009 Tommies average 467 yards and 22 first downs a game in their 5-0 start. The Tommie offensive line has allowed just one sack this season and 10 sacks overall in 13 games in 2008 and 2009.

Media Links

--MONDAY MORNING QB: Click here to watch and listen to Coach Caruso's postgame reports:

Macalester win: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/20090907MMQB.html

St. Olaf win: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/20090924MMQB.html

Hamline win: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/MMQ-9-27.html

Gustavus win: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfvxaEIJrxY

Concordia win: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3sRmwCJOwk

--KSTP REPORT: KSTP-TV Channel 5 reporter/photographer John Gross produced a video story on Tommie football that aired Sept. 15, on the station's 6:30 p.m. newscast. Click here to watch the video (click on PLAY button in video square):

http://ksax.com/article/stories/S1140520.shtml?cat=10262

--TOMMIE MEDIA: St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso is the subject of an extended feature story by UST student Shane Kitzman on Tommiemedia.com. Click here and scroll to sports:

www.tommiemedia.com

--COLLEGE SPORTING NEWS: Access Rich Mies' story and audio interview links from the Sept. 19 St. Olaf game:

http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php/2009/09/20/miac-football-week-one-off-and-running?blog=5

Sept. 5 MIAC wrapup:

http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php/2009/09/05/miac-football-a-perfect-start-1?blog=5

Oct. 10 wrapup: http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews.com/index.php/2009/10/10/miac-football-week-four-the-stage-gets-s?blog=5

--MORE TOMMIE MEDIA: Concordia highlights: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/TM_10-11.html

St. Olaf highlights: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/TM_9-19.html

Gustavus highlights: http://www.tommiemedia.com/?p=1728

Tommie-Johnnie rivalry: http://www.tommiemedia.com/featured-news/tommie-johnnie-rivalry-starts-with-ignatius-oshaughnessy/

--UST HIGHLIGHT CLIPS: St. Olaf game: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/9-20_video-clips.html

Junkyard blog: http://junkyardblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/o-line-rules-the-day-as-tommies-upend-concordia/

Trends

--NEXT WEEK: The Tommies travel to Northfield to face Carleton. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Laird Stadium.

--COACH TALK: Coach Caruso will have a QB Club meeting open to alumni, parents and fans on select Monday nights this fall at Plum's in St. Paul (Cleveland and Randolph Avenues). The first session is next Monday Oct. 19.

--GAMEBREAKER: Fritz Waldvogel leads all Division III players in punt return average at 22.7 ypr. Click below to read about his two TDs against Macalester and his propensity for big plays:

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/FritzW_9-11.html

--DEPTH CHART: The Tommies have five sophomores and one freshman on their defensive 2-deep chart, and 11 sophomores and two freshmen on the offensive two-deep.

--POLL TALK: St. Thomas was ranked in three preseason top-25 polls for Division III -- the program’s first national ranking in football since 1997. UST is currently ranked 15th. The Toms went 7-3 last season under first-year head coach Glenn Caruso. Their plus-5 turnaround from a 2-8 finish in 2007 was the third best out of 241 D-III programs. (Caruso's first seven MIAC games were decided by eight or less points).

--QUICK CHECK ON TOMS: The Tommies have 15 seniors on their 135-man roster. The returners from 2008's 7-3 finish include 18 players with starting experience, and 11 players who have received all-conference recognition in their careers, including nine honored in 2008. Two transfer students are atop the depth charts, and the other two are expected to push for playing time. A few from the 50-plus man freshman class could break into the two-deeps. The newcomer group includes five players invited to play in the Minnesota High School All-Star Game, and two who played in Wisconsin’s all-star game.

--NEW LEADER: Caruso was hired in January 2008 as St. Thomas' 29th head coach in the 104-year history of its football program. He replaced Don Roney, who resigned in November 2007 after 10 seasons. In his 13-year coaching career, Caruso, 35, is now in the midst of his fourth impressive rebuilding job... In 2006 he inherited just 24 players as head coach of a Macalester program that was coming off a 2-25 stretch from 2003-2005. Coach Caruso doubled the roster size and took the Scots to a 2-7 record in 2006 and a 4-5 mark in 2007. In his first season at Macalester, the Scots produced their two highest single-game total yardage outputs in their program's 119-year history. He has earned a reputation for installing dynamic, high-scoring attacks on offense, most recently in stints at Macalester and South Dakota's offensive coordinator (2004, 2005). His South Dakota teams averaged nearly 600 yards and 50 points per game to lead the nation in both categories.

Good offseason

--MOMENTUM: It was a productive offseason for Tommie football. Not only did the Tommies attract a deep and balanced recruiting class, but a May trip to Winnipeg for an exhibition game provided a good team-bonding experience for 80 players and the coaches. It also allowed for some additional practices and a rare spring football game.

--NCAA CHAMPIONS: The offseason was good on another front. Five Tommie football players were members of NCAA championship teams last spring, including All-West Region running back Ben Wartman (13 TDs, 1,311 rushing yards as sophomore in 2008... Junior CB Kirk Baglien and Wartman were on the Toms' NCAA D-III championship baseball team; (Wartman had two hits and threw out two runners in title game, 3-2 win over Wooster in 12 innings)... Senior WR-KR Sam Moen, pictured at left (second from left) is a four-year starter, was on the Toms' NCAA champ 4x100 relay team in track and field (first ever Minnesota college men's track national relay champion team)... Junior DB Matt Griswold was on Tommies' NCAA champion 4x400 relay team and also placed fourth nationally in 400-meter hurdles. Moen and Griswold helped the Tommies take third in NCAA team race, one point out of second... Sophomore LB Jesse Amar was a member of Toms' club sport national champion lacrosse team last May... In additional, senior DB Brady Ervin was a key role player last winter on the Tommies' 30-1 men's basketball team that finished No. 3 in the final rankings after being ranked first for five week and losing to eventual champion Washington (Mo.) in national quarterfinals.

--MORE 2-SPORTS: Other UST football two-sport athletes are DB Chris Victor (conference runner-up in pole vault); punter A.C. Clouthier (javelin), and offensive linemen Reed Mainquist (javelin), Justyn Helgeson (shot put) and Chad Vandergriff (shot put) in track and field; LB Tony Danna in hockey; and QB Greg Morse and WR Fritz Waldvogel in basketball.

--AND STILL MORE: Freshman CB Eyo Ekpo of Andover was a seven-time all-stater in track and field. Ekpo ran on the AA state champion 4x100 relay; was AA state runner-up in the high jump (6-8) and triple jump (45-7), and placed sixth in long jump with season best of 22-7. He was twice chosen conference MVP.

--GO WITH THE FLOW: Five current Tommies played football for four different head coaches from 2005-2008 -- Tommy Becker, Brady Ervin, Josh Ostrue, Scott Saehr and Bryan Villar. The quintet played for three different college coaches over a three-year span.

Read more: http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/news/4in4_10-28.html

--OFFENSE SHINES: Caruso's 2008 offensive unit had impressive balance as it averaged 200 rushing yards and 175 passing yards plus 20 first downs a game. The Tommies finished fast as they outscored opponents 70-7 over the last seven quarters of the season. After it averaged 21 points in regulation in the first six games, St. Thomas averaged 32.5 points over its final four games. The 2008 Toms allowed a modest 21 touchdowns in regulation after giving up 44 in 2007. Over the last four games, UST allowed just 176 net rushing yards on 101 carries. The Tommies return several key offensive players, led by senior center Josh Ostrue, who was named the first Tommie interior offensive lineman All-American in 17 seasons, Ostrue led a group that allowed only nine sacks and helped block for eight different 100-plus yard rushing games by running backs. Ostrue is among six lnemen with starting experience from tackle to tight end.  Wartman, in his first season at running back, was the biggest beneficiary. He led conference players in rushing (1,311), rushing touchdowns (13) and all-purpose yards. His 300-yard day on 37 carries at Augsburg is believed to be just the third 300-yard rushing game in 85 seasons of MIAC football. Colin Tobin (25 rushes for 231 yards in the final two games) and Trevor Flaten both played extensively as freshmen at fullback… The Toms’ receiving corps appears deep. WR-PR Fritz Waldvogel (5 TDs, 59 catches, 807 yards) was the lone freshman among 70 players named first- or second-team all-conference. Moen has started the last 25 games and on his career and has nine touchdowns and 84 catches for 974 yards. Senior WR Tony Margarit is back after he missed the 2008 season with an injury. He caught 51 passes for 578 yards as a junior in 2007… QB David Sauer graduated after holding the job most of the last three seasons. In 30 games, Sauer completed 60% of his passes for 5,814 yards and threw for 48 touchdowns. The six QBs on the preseason roster include sophomore Greg Morse, who passed for 275 yards and five TDs in five quarters of the final two games and guided the Tommies on scoring drives in 10 of 15 possessions; sophomore Dakota Tracy, who also took some snaps in four games as a freshman; and junior Matt Joshi.

--DEFENSE/SPECIALISTS: Tommie linebackers and safeties will lead the way in 2009, led by Ervin and fellow seniors Tommy Becker, Zach Sturm and Bryan Villar, plus juniors Tony Danna and Wyatt Delgado. At cornerback, seniors Jeffrey Hilliard and Kris Kopp and juniors Baglien and Griswold lead the returners. The Tommies’ biggest concern will be shoring up the defensive line. Senior Scott Saehr, junior Cyrus Allen and sophomore Blake Brix lead the returners… The Toms return three-year starting punter A.C. Clothier, a second-team All-MIAC honoree last season… Waldvogel, who had a 70-yard punt return vs. Carleton and a 56-yard kickoff return vs. Bethel will lead the return game… Three-year starting placekicker Eric Taylor has graduated.  Freshman all-state kicker Luke DeWall of Stillwater and senior transfer Brady Beeson of St. John’s lead the candidates to replace Taylor.

--NON-LEAGUE TESTS: St. Thomas' schedule consists entirely of Minnesota opponents. St. Thomas played difficult non-conference schedules over the last two decades. From 1998-2007, the Toms had 12 games vs. Division II Bemidji State or strong Division III programs Central, St. Norbert, UW-Stout, Coe and Loras. The Toms went 2-12 in those games, but seven of the 12 losses are by a combined 43 points. The 2009 schedule ends the two-year series with Macalester and Northwestern. St. Norbert and UW-River Falls will be the first two Tommie opponents in 2010 and 2011. St. Norbert will host St. Thomas in 2010 and play in St. Paul in 2011, while River Falls will travel here in 2010 and host UST in 2011.

--CRAZY 2008 RACE: Caruso’s first season at St. Thomas will be remembered for so many close finishes and a wacky MIAC race not decided until the final seconds of the St. John's-Carleton game. The Tommies easily could have been 10-0, though just as easily could have been 5-5. The first seven games of Caruso’s MIAC career were decided by eight or less points, including five still in doubt in the final minute or in overtime. UST had a six OT-loss to St. Olaf; an 18-17 loss to St. John’s; a 22-20 loss to Augsburg; a 35-31 game won on the last play vs. Carleton on Jake Friederichs' TD catch as time expired; a 14-13 win at Concordia; and a 24-21 win over Hamline.

Did you know?

--EAGLE POWER: UST has 10 players from two Minnesota prep powerhouse programs that have combined to win eight state football championships this decade in their respective classes –- the Eden Prairie Eagles (four 5A titles) and the Totino-Grace Eagles (four 4A crowns)… With senior tight end Jake Friederichs, the Tommies have a T-G Eagle grad starting on the offensive line for the 10th consecutive season… The Eden Prairie Eagles have won 14 of the last 17 Lake Conference football titles and are 45-1 since 2006. The EP alums playing for the Tommies include two starters, senior DB Brady Ervin and sophomore DL Blake Brix

--OTHER HOTBEDS: St. Thomas has six players from Holy Angels and St. Thomas Academy; five from Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Andover and Totino; and four from Woodbury. The 137-player roster has seven players from Wisconsin and seven more from the Chicago area.

--Ws AND Ls: In conference games since 1996, St. John's is 103-11; Bethel is 86-28; UST is 75-39; Concordia is 72-41; Gustavus is 58-55; St. Olaf is 52-62; Augsburg is 44-69; Hamline is 22-92; Carleton is 21-92; (Macalester was 5-49 before leaving the MIAC for football). UST has had just three losing football seasons in the last 14 years... The Tommies had lost six consecutive games on campus dating back to 2006 but are 7-1 at Palmer Field since 2008.

--100 CLUB: The UST offense has had 100-yard rushing performances by a player 67 times in the 17 seasons since 1992.

PHOTOS: Above photos by Greg Smith (www.gsmithsports.com) and UST's Mike Ekern