ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus football team broke a 7-7 tie early in the second quarter and scored 37 unanswered points en route to a 44-7 win at Hamline on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties improve to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the MIAC with their biggest Northwoods Division matchup on the horizon next Saturday at Saint John’s.
After the Gustie defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the game, the offense wasted little time taking a 7-0 lead as George Sandven (So., Edina) tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Thelen (Sr., Cold Spring) up the left sideline with 10:35 on the clock. The Pipers made a goal line stand on the second Gustie drive of the game and responded with an 18-play, 95-yard scoring drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 11:36 left in the second quarter.
Gustavus quickly answered with a three-play scoring drive, set up by a 39-yard kickoff return by River Wood (Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla.). Sandven connected with Matthew Carreon (Sr., Houston, Texas) for a 28-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline as Carreon went 22 yards after the catch into the endzone, taking the lead for good. The Gusties finished the first half with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Tanner Rennie (Fy., Cape Coral, Fla.), and took a 20-7 lead into the locker room at half.
The Gusties’ first drive of the second half ended with a 25-yard Andrew Abegglen (Sr., Mound) field goal, which was the only scoring play of the third. Rennie finished off a 12-play, 84-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 30-7. David Peal (Sr., Worcester, Mass.) found pay dirt with 3:26 left in the game with a one-yard score, and Ezekiel Sundberg (Sr., Lakewood, Colo.) put a stamp on the game with an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown. Sundberg finished the game with two picks for 105 yards.
The Gusties outgained the Pipers 536-335 in total yards. Sandven completed 27-of-38 passes for 336 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Thelen was the top target, hauling in 10 catches for 98 yards and a score. Carreon added six catches and a career-high 141 yards. Rennie led the ground attack with 13 carries for 72 yards and two scores. Graham Nistler (Sr., St. Cloud) led the defense with 11 tackles, including two pass breakups and a tackle for loss.
Gustavus travels to Saint John’s next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.