Karim Ortiz extends towards the goal line. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Rosenburg, SPX Sports)
BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY | COACH HAUGEN POSTGAME
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustvaus football team blanked Carleton College by a score of 52-0 during the season finale and senior day Saturday afternoon at Hollingsworth Field, finishing the season with a 5-5 overall record and 4-4 mark in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Black and Gold offense excelled under the leadership of quarterback Michael Veldman (Jr., Becker, Minn.), who returned from injury after missing four games. Veldman completed 20-of-28 passes with 322 yards and four touchdowns, including a career-long 83-yard touchdown pass. Gustavus outgained the Knights 544-150 in yards of total offense, while the Gustie defense forced two Carleton fumbles and three interceptions to end the season on a high note.
Guided by three quick scores in the opening quarter and a first half total of 341 yards of offense, the Gusties jumped out to a 35-0 lead over Carleton heading into the intermission.
Veldman completed three touchdown passes in the first half. Josh Kirk (So., Garvin, Minn.) opened the scoring with an 11-yard run and followed with an 83-yard touchdown reception, topping his career-high 81-yard run set against Hamline. Kevin Krohn (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) scored his first career offensive touchdown, bringing in a three-yard touchdown pass prior to a Brice Panning (So., Hamburg, Minn.) 38-yard score and three-yard touchdown run from Karim Ortiz (Sr., Cancun, Mexico).
Ortiz added another score to open the second-half scoring, rushing in a five-yard touchdown at 9:17 of the third quarter for the sole points of the third quarter. Veldman tallied his fourth TD pass to Scott Eischens (Sr., Victoria, Minn.) in the fourth quarter, his first career score. Brendan Boche (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) notched a 37-yard field goal to cap his impressive career and the 52-0 win.
Defensively, Matt Berkner (Jr., Sleepy, Eye, Minn.), Jake Boykin (So., Las Cruces, N.M.), and Krohn led the team with eight tackles each. Berkner, Jacob Gonzalez (Sr., Woodbury, Minn.), and Michael Lopez (So., Mendota Heights, Minn.).