Box Score Box Score
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team looked like it was possibly on its way to its first-ever win this afternoon, but it wasn't meant to be as the Macalester College Scots defeated the Saints 27-21 in overtime at Macalester Stadium.
The Saints (0-4) had many chances on the day, being in Macalester's (2-3) red zone seven times. However, CSS only capitalized on three of those chances. The Saints did convert a red zone opportunity late in the fourth quarter when it trailed 21-14 with less than five minutes to play. Back-up quarterback #Alex Thiry# (So.-Cambridge, Minn./Braham) found #Mike VanMassenhove# (So.-Superior, Wis.) on 4th-and-goal to cut the lead to 21-20 with 4:20 left to play in regulation. #Kyle Hoffman# (Jr.-St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech) then added the extra point to tie it up.
Hoffman then executed an on-side kick that was recovered by the Saints. Unfortunately the Saints couldn't do anything with the ball and had to punt it to the Scots. Macalester got the ball down to the St. Scholastica 38-yard-line, but the Saints defense held firm and forced a Macalester punt. The Saints were then just content to play for overtime.
CSS would get the ball first in overtime, and got the ball down to the 4-yard-line. On fourth down, the Saints rolled out, but no one was open and the Saints turned it over on downs. On Macalester's second play of its possession, the Scots connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass to down the Saints 27-21.
The Saints out-gained the Scots 325-282. CSS threw for 278 yards, but ran just for 47 yards thanks to five sacks by the Scots. St. Scholastica was 6-for-20 on the third downs, but was 4-for-7 on fourth downs. The Saints had 23 first downs, compared to just 14 for the Scots.
Macalester scored quickly on the first possession of the game, needing just five plays. On 4th-and-1, T. Joe Loiselle broke a 33-yard touchdown to run to make the score 7-0. On CSS's second possession of the game, the Saints drove the ball down to the Scots' 21-yard-line. However, the Saints would fumble and give the ball back to the Scots. The Saints defense forced a three-and-out to give the offense good field position on their next possession. St. Scholastica capitalized this time when #Jake Olson# (Fr.-Esko, Minn.) connected with #Tom Lyscio# (Fr.-Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) for a 1-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-goal to tie it up at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Scots took the lead on the next possession when on another fourth down quarterback Trevor Miehe hit Matt Mitchell for a 22-yard touchdown. With less than two-minutes left in the first half, the Scots missed a 31-yard field goal as the score at the half was 14-7.
The Saints controlled the ball in the third quarter with a time of possession of 11:28. CSS took the opening possession of the second half down the field and #Christopher Henagin# (Jr.-Cloquet, Minn.) scored from one yard out to tie it at 14-14. The Saints converted a 4th-and-7 and a 3rd-and-14 on the drive.
After the Scots went three-and-out, the Saints got the ball down to the Macalester 8-yard-line, but threw and interception on fourth down. Macalester then scored on a 4th-and-8 when Miehe connected with Mitchell again for a 25-yard touchdown. St. Scholastica turned it over on downs in the Macalester red zone halfway through the fourth quarter before tying it up at the end.
Jake Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) threw for 221 yards on 17-of-29 passing. Backup Alex Thiry (Cambridge, Minn./Braham HS (Minn.-Duluth)) threw for 57 yards on 4-of-12 passing. Mike VanMassenhove (Superior, Wis./Superior HS (Minn.-Duluth)) had a huge day for the Saints with 11 receptions for 158 yards. Christopher Henagin (Cloquet, Minn./Fond du Lac) rushed for 81 yards on 25 carries. #Robert Bishop# (Jr.-Hill City, Minn.) had seven tackles to lead the CSS defense.
The Saints return home next week to face Northwestern College at Malosky Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
