Dalton Thelen returns a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. (photo courtesy of Zoe Haugen)
NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus football team secured the MIAC Northwoods Division No. 2 seed Saturday with a 49-37 win at St. Olaf. The Gusties improve to 6-3 overall, 5-2 in the MIAC, and finish 3-1 in the division, and are set to host Skyline Division No. 2 seed Augsburg next Saturday during the MIAC championship week.
Gustavus and St. Olaf traded blows in the first quarter, resulting in a 14-14 score after the first 15 minutes. The Gusties scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from George Sandven (So., Edina) to Dalton Thelen (Sr., Cold Spring) and then tied the game on a 29-yard pass from Sandven to Matthew Kipper (Sr., Bloomington).
St. Olaf took a 20-14 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of field goals before the Gusties tied the game on a one-yard quarterback sneak touchdown by Sandven with 4:30 left in the half. The point after was no good and the score remained tied until Andrew Abegglen (Sr., Mound) made a 38-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in the half, giving the Gusties a 23-20 advantage at the break.
The Oles tied the game early in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal, but the Gusties regained the lead for good on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to Rohee Konde (Jr., Hopkins). The Gusties quickly extended the lead to 37-23 on their next drive, which ended with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to Jake Breitbach (Jr., Golden Valley).
Gustavus continued to added to its lead early in the fourth with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to Kipper, but the Oles would not go quietly. St. Olaf answered with two touchdown passes on their next possessions, but Thelen swung the momentum back to Gustavus with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Gusties then held on for the 12-point margin of victory.
Sandven finished the day 23-for-35 with 298 yards and five touchdowns. He also had five carries for 25 yards and a score. Breitbach was the top receiving target with six catches for 92 yards and a score. Kipper added two receptions, both for touchdowns, and 76 yards. Konde paced the rushing attack with 20 carries for 113 yards.
Thelen produced 310 all-purpose yards with 261 coming on the kickoff. Carson DeKam (Jr., Owatonna) led the defense with six tackles, including one for a loss. Javier Gratacos (Jr., Orlando, Fla.) added four tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one fumble recovery, and a block, while Isaiah Chambers (Jr., Houston, Texas) and Isaak Knutson (Sr., Dodge Center) each had an interception.
The Gusties outgained the Oles 462-421 and limited the Ole ground attack to 69 yards.