Article courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC Assistant Executive Director
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus offense continued its phenomenal season in Saturday’s 58-34 win over St. Olaf, to help the Gusties remain undefeated in 2015. The breakout star of the team’s latest victory was senior Jake Douglas (Montevideo, Minn.), whose three touchdowns and 172 receiving yards resulted in the best single-game performance by a Gustavus tight end in more than three decades. For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Douglas Monday with the MIAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week award.
Douglas hauled in nine passes for his 172 yards and three touchdowns for an impressive average of 19.1 yards per catch and the best effort by a Gustie tight end in 35 years. His three scores came from 2, 11 and 54 yards to help the Gusties turn a 14-7 deficit into an eventual 58-34 victory. His 54-yard catch-and-run score up the seam is one of this week’s nominees for MIAC Football Play-of-the-Week. This season, Douglas has 15 catches for 285 yards and three scores. In conference games only, he ranks second in the MIAC in yards per catch (19.0), third in touchdowns (three), fourth in yards (285) and ninth in catches (15).
Thanks to Saturday’s big win, the Gusties improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Gustavus jumped up to No. 20 in the AFCA Division III Coaches’ Poll, and is still the first team outside the top 25 in the D3football.com rankings. This week, Douglas and company will face their toughest test to date when they travel to Collegeville, Minn., to take on defending MIAC champion and No. 14/15-ranked Saint John’s (4-1, 2-1 MIAC). Saturday’s Top 25 showdown kicks off at 1 p.m.