Saint Thomas kicker Adam Valenta made a 24-yard field in the first overtime and St. Thomas escaped with a 10-7 win in St. Peter on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties hopes of winning the game ended when St. Thomas defensive back Jeremy Krentz intercepted a pass by Gustavus quarterback Jordan Stolp at the St. Thomas five-yard line in the overtime. The Tommies improve to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the MIAC, while Gustavus falls to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in the MIAC.
The game was played in very blustery conditions with the temperature at 43 degrees and the wind gusting up to 50 miles per hour. All of the scoring in regulation took place in the second quarter. The Tommies opened the scoring on a 12-yard run by Peter Ridley very early in the second quarter. Adam Valenta added the extra point and the score was 7-0 in favor of St. Thomas. Gustavus bounced back to tie the score at 7-7 midway through the second quarter when Mitch Anderson scampered around right end for a two-yard TD run. Jordan Stolp kicked the extra point for the Gusties.
The Gustavus defense stopped the Tommie offense on downs inside the Gustie 20-yard line twice in the third quarter. Saint Thomas countered by intercepting three Gustavus passes in the second half including the interception that earned the Tommies the win in overtime.
Saint Thomas, which compiled 252 yards of total offense, was led by running back Peter Ridley who carried 31 times for 101 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Ryan Jansen completed 11-of-16 passes for 77 yards with one interception.
Gustavus, which totalled 159 yards of total offense, was led by running back Mitch Anderson who carried 27 times for 80 yards with one touchdown. Quarterback Jordan Stolp had a difficult day in the windy conditions as he completed 4-of-23 passes for 79 yards with 3 interceptions. Stolp had his string of seven consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass snapped against the Tommies.
Gustavus will travel to Northfield next week to play Carleton, while St. Thomas returns home to host Hamline.