St. Scholastica 22
Minnesota, Morris 16
For nearly two quarters it appeared UMM was poised to be Homecoming spoilers at St. Scholastica. On a beautiful and cool late afternoon in Duluth, the Cougars ran out to a 16-0 lead in the second quarter, quieting the raucous home crowd. But the Saints regrouped, picked up a first half touchdown and then completed the comeback with two more third quarter scores, topping UMM 22-16. In the two-year history of Saints football, it was their program’s first conference victory.
The Cougars received the opening kickoff and promptly marched downfield. Behind the running of Robert Koranda and Ernest Tucker, UMM crossed deep into Saints territory, but a pair of sacks threatened to stall the drive. On 4th and 13 on the Scholastica 30 yard line, first year quarterback Daniel Garrigan found tight end Nick Laven for 14 yards and a new set of downs. Two plays later, Tucker rushed in from 12 yards out for the score.
The teams traded punts until late in the first quarter, when the Cougars mounted a second drive, this time from their own 30 yard line. First year quarterback Derrick Foss converted a pair of third down completions, bringing UMM to the Saints’ 2 yard line. Faced with a fourth down, head coach Todd Hickman opted for a field goal, and Matt Privratsky converted.
Down 10-0, and maybe sensing a game getting away from them, Scholastica began their first serious drive of the game. Running back Chris Hengain and quarterback Alex Thiry combined their rushing and passing on a six minute drive that led the Saints to the UMM 5 yard line and a fourth down. Scholastica nixed the field goal try and went to the air again, where Cougar safety Nate Lund intercepted the ball and returned a school-record 93 yards for a touchdown, giving UMM a 16-0 lead.
The teams again traded a series of punts before Scholastica took over with 1:07 remaining in the first half and what would prove to be, by game’s end, to be a crucial possession. Four straight Thiry completions brought the Saints to midfield. After an incomplete pass and a timeout, Thiry hooked up with wideout Jonny Bennett for two straight completions, the second a 34-yard touchdown pass. After a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Saints had cut UMM’s lead to ten points, but more importantly, they brought momentum their way going into halftime.
Scholastica maintained that momentum on the opening drive of the second half, going 61 yards in nine plays. Quarterback Nick Bacon, in for Thiry, punched in from the 2 yard line to cut the Cougars’ lead to 16-14.
The Saints defense stifled UMM’s attempts score more points. After a five and out series for the Cougars, with 4:53 on the clock, Scholastica went 58 yards on four plays for the go ahead touchdown and a 22-16 that would hold for the game.
The Cougars threatened one more time when Garrigan completed a 20 yard pass to Koranda that brought UMM to the Saints’ 35 yard line with a new set of downs. But Garrigan was sacked on the next two plays. A desperation 4th down pass by Foss was intercepted. The Saints were able to run out the clock after that.
For the game, the Cougars gained 185 yards on offense to the Saints' 347.
Next week the Cougars will be on the road again at Martin Luther College in New Ulm before returning to Big Cat Stadium to host Crown College for Homecoming on October 10.
Box Score
