NORTHFIELD, Minn. – An early 14-0 lead in the first quarter set the tone for the Gustavus football team’s 23-3 victory over St. Olaf on Saturday. The Gusties outgained the Oles 407-209 in total yards, while forcing the home team to punt seven times and commit three turnovers. Gustavus snaps a four-game skid in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, improving to 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the league, while the Oles fall to 2-6 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
Gustavus scored its first touchdown after forcing a fumble on St. Olaf’s first offensive play of the game. Drew Fredericksen (Jr., Forsyth, Ill.) forced the fumble, which was recovered by Tanner Jensen (Sr., Lewiston, Minn.) at the Ole 30-yard line. Six plays later, Christian Haffner (Fy., Lebanon, Tenn.) found the endzone on a seven-yard rush.
The second Gustie touchdown also followed an Ole turnover as Jensen intercepted a pass at the Gustavus 45-yard line and returned it 23 yards to the home 32-yard line. Five plays later, Haffner rushed in his second touchdown of the day on a six-yard scamper and the Gusties led 14-0 after the first quarter.
The two teams traded a couple possessions in the second quarter, leading up to a 10-play, 76-yard drive for the Gusties late in the quarter. The drive stalled at the Ole four-yard line and Brendan Boche (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) gave Gustavus a 17-0 lead with a 21-yard field goal with :08 remaining in the half, which remained the score at the break.
St. Olaf broke the shutout at the 10:45 mark in the third quarter on a 38-yard field goal, following an eight-play, 24-yard drive. The scoring drive was set up by an interception at the Gustie 45-yard line.
Both teams were forced to punt on their next offensive possessions, which led to Gustavus’s final scoring drive of the game. Karim Ortiz (Jr., Cancun, Mexico) capped a six-play, 65-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point failed and Gustavus led 23-3, which would end up being the final score. St. Olaf had one offensive possession in the fourth quarter, which lasted 5:27 on 15 plays and went 72 yards, but was stalled on the Gustie 18-yard line and the visitors were able to run out the clock.
Luke Martinez (Sr., Lenexa, Kan.) led the Gustie ground game with 22 carries for 106 yards. Haffner added 18 carries for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns. Haffner also completed 14-for-21 passes for 152 yards and an interception. Hunter Johnson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) was the top target with five catches for 39 yards. Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) led the defense with five tackles, including two for a loss.
Gustavus returns to Hollingsworth Field next Saturday for a 1:10 p.m. MIAC matchup against No. 4-ranked St. Thomas, who defeated Bethel 27-6 today to remain undefeated at 8-0.