The University of St. Thomas (1-0) secured a 15-9 victory over Winona State (0-1) on Thursday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. St. Thomas capitalized on its efficient red zone offense, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal in its two red zone opportunities.
TOP TOMMIES
Anthony Policare (Endwell, N.Y. / Maine-Endwell)
Won his first career start at quarterback, leading the Tommies offense to 322 yards of total offense.
Compiled 13 completions on 22 attempts for 166 yards with one passing touchdown
Also accumulated 73 rushing yards on 16 attempts with one 1 rushing touchdown
Pierce McCrary (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Kennedy)
Scored his first career touchdown to clinch victory for St. Thomas in the fourth quarter
Peyton Himley (Edina, Minn. / Edina)
Recorded six total tackles and sealed the victory with an interception in the fourth quarter
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER: The game opened with St. Thomas winning the coin toss and opting to defer, allowing the Warriors to receive the opening kickoff. Winona State’s initial drive advanced to the Tommies’ 31-yard line but was halted by a crucial sack from Walker Owens (Wheaton, Ill. / North) and Mitchell Nigro (Richfield, Wis. / Marquette), pushing the Warriors back to the 33-yard line. A delay of game penalty further stymied their progress, resulting in a punt.
St. Thomas began its drive at its own 20-yard line, highlighted by Policare’s 18-yard rush, advancing the ball to the opposing 43-yard line. However, the drive stalled, resulting in a 23-yard punt. The quarter ended with both teams failing to score, leaving the score tied at 0-0.
SECOND QUARTER: In the second quarter, the Tommies responded to an early field goal by Winona State with a determined drive. Policare orchestrated a significant 39-yard pass to Quentin Cobb-Butler (Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury), moving the home team deep into the Warriors’ territory. The drive culminated in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Policare, putting St. Thomas ahead.
Despite missing the extra point attempt, the Tommies maintained their lead through solid defensive plays, including a crucial tackle for loss by Owens and Schares. The quarter ended with St. Thomas leading 6-3.
THIRD QUARTER: St. Thomas opened the third with a promising drive, highlighted by Abel’s consistent rushing, which helped advance the ball into scoring position. Despite a setback due to a holding penalty, the Tommies managed to capitalize with a 31-yard field goal by Ben Hoiland (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View), increasing their lead to 9-3 at 08:36 on the clock.
The Tommies then effectively contained the Warriors’ subsequent drives, with notable defensive plays including tackles for loss by Himley and Owens. Abel continued to contribute on offense with significant rushes, as St. Thomas maintained control. The period concluded with the Tommies holding a 9-3 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER: In a dramatic fourth quarter, St. Thomas secured a late victory over Winona State with a crucial play. With just under a minute remaining, Policare connected with Luke Schuler (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) for a 47-yard pass, leading to a fumble recovery in the end zone by McCrary for a touchdown. Earlier, the Warriors had taken a narrow lead with a touchdown run by Jahmani Muhammad but failed to convert the extra point. The Tommies solidified their win with a final interception by Himley, ending the game with a 15-9 victory.
TOMMIE TIDBITS:
– Head coach Glenn Caruso won his 165th game as the Tommies head coach thanks to Thursday’s victory over Winona State. Caruso is now 165-39 in 19 seasons at St. Thomas.
– Caruso is now 16-2 all-time in season openers with the Tommies and 4-2 in the DI era.
UP NEXT:
St. Thomas will travel to a neighboring state, as the Tommies square off with #10 North Dakota on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
(info and photo courtesy of Tommies Sports)
(photo by: Kylie Macziewski)
