Saints Take Care of Highlanders
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team went down to Freesen Field and took care of business defeating MacMurray College 43-6 to remain unbeaten in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play on Saturday.
The Highlanders (0-5, 0-4 UMAC) got the ball first and moved all the way down to the Saints' 10-yard-line, but would proceed to miss a 27-yard field goal. On the next play and CSS's first offensive play from scrimmage, Thomas Fragale went 80 yards for the score to put the Saints up 7-0.
After the teams exchanged punts, MacMurray was able to drive into CSS's red zone again, but Zack Dubanoski and Keaton Rush would record a sack on fourth down at the CSS 18-yard-line and the Highlanders turned it over on downs.
The Saints then went down the field and Mike Theismann converted a 30-yard field goal to make the score 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Theismann was called on again on the Saints' next possession, making another 30-yard field goal to make it 13-0. That would be the score at the half.
After a 46-yard kick return by Sherome Milon to begin the second half, the Saints had a short field to work with and took advantage as Jake Jensen plunged in from a yard out to give the Saints a 20-0 lead.
It was a third Theismann field goal from 30 yards that put the Saints in front 23-0 with 2:39 left in the third quarter. That marked the first time in program history the Saints made three field goals in a game. After the Highlanders turned it over on downs again, Tyler Harper connected with Nick Thiry for 42-yard touchdown reception to make the score 30-0 at the end of the third quarter.
The CSS defense got a score in the fourth quarter with an Alec French 40-yard interception return for a touchdown. The last Saints score came on a Chris Gassert 69-yard touchdown run with six minutes left to make it 43-0.
A blocked punt ultimately led to MacMurray's lone score. The Highlanders scored with 32 seconds left on a Zach Mudd 15-yard touchdown reception to spoil the CSS defense shutout bid and make the final score 43-6. That was the first touchdown allowed by the Saints defense in 13 straight quarters.
St. Scholastica recorded 465 yards of total offense with 321 yards on the ground and 144 through the air. Jensen led the rushing attack with 119 yards on 23 carries. Harper was 10-of-21 passing for 135 yards. Thiry had three receptions for 62 yards.
The CSS defense held the Highlanders 245 yards of total offense with 211 passing yards and 34 rushing yards. Dubanoski led the Saints with eight tackles. Tyler Zurn added seven tackles, two pass breakups and a sack. MacMurray used three different quarterbacks in the contest.
The Saints (4-1, 4-0 UMAC) will be back at home next Saturday when they face Northwestern College in a conference clash at Ordean Field on the Duluth East High School campus. Both teams will come in unbeaten in conference play. The kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. and everything can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.
