Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – In its final home game of 2009, the St. Scholastica football team threw six interceptions in windy conditions on its way to a 35-13 loss to Macalester College today at Public Schools Stadium. 

The Saints entered today's contest on a two-game winning streak. For the fourth straight week, the Saints' opponent scored on the opening possession of the game. After a good kick return brought the ball inside the 20-yard-line, the CSS defense, which has played well the last couple of weeks, was put against the wall. The defense forced the Scots into a fourth-and-eight, but Macalester converted with a 10-yard completion. On the next play Jake McDonnell scored from six yards out to give the Scots a 7-0 edge. 

On CSS's first play of the ensuing possession, Macalester's Josh Boomgaarden made a diving interception. McDonnell later scored again from 12 yards out to make it 14-0. Boomgaarden stepped in front of another St. Scholastica pass on the next Saints possession. After the CSS defense held the Scots to a punt, Macalester intercepted its third pass in three Saints possessions, but Brandon Murphy, who intercepted the pass, gave it right back to the Saints by fumbling it. 

After the Scots got the ball back, it was the Saints defense that played the interception game when #Mike Evans# (So.-Andover, Minn./St. Francis) deflected a screen pass into the arms of #JP Leary III# (So.-Inver Grove Heights, Minn./South St. Paul), who brought it back 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7 with one minute to go in the first quarter. It was the second straight week the Saints have brought back an interception for a touchdown. 

Macalester responded on the next possession by converting a couple of third downs and then connecting on a 23-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-7 with over 10 minutes to go in the first half. 

After both teams exchanged punts, the Saints started with the ball at their own 26-yard-line with 2:28 left in the half. On the first play of the drive, Macalester's Aaron Gallegos snatched a floating ball down the middle of field and brought it back 45 yards for a touchdown to extend Macalester's lead to 28-7. 

CSS was forced to punt on the following possession and the Scots struck for one more score in the half when Jon Elliot caught a tipped ball in the corner of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown with one second left in the half to make 35-7 at the break. 

The Scots out-gained the Saints 187-44 in the first half. CSS had just two completions for nine yards in the half, while throwing four interceptions. 

The score remained 35-7 into the fourth quarter with the Saints throwing their final two interceptions on their first two drives of the quarter. The six interceptions thrown are the most in a game in the two seasons of the CSS program. The CSS defense hung in the game and did not allow a single point in the second half. The Saints got their first offensive touchdown of the day with five minutes left when #Christopher Henagin# (Sr.-Cloquet, Minn.) scored from two yards out to make the final score 35-13. The Saints fall to 3-3 overall, while the Scots improve to 2-4 overall. 

Macalester finished with 285 yards of total offense on the afternoon, while the Saints ended with 191 yards. The Scots defense also held the Saints to their fewest yards passing in a game this season at 135 yards. The Scots controlled time of possession, having the ball for over 37 minutes in the game. 

#Jake Olson# (So.-Esko, Minn.) and #Matt Bacon# (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) both saw time at quarterback today and both completed five passes. Bacon threw for 114 yards in the game. Henagin ran 16 times for 43 yards and #Jonny Bennett# (So.-Blackduck, Minn.) led in receiving with three catches for 24 yards. #Zack Dubanoski# (Fr.-New Prague, Minn.) led the Saints on defense with 12 tackles and two forced fumbles. #Sean Graskey# (Fr.-Superior, Wis.), #Scott Greening# (So.-Antigo, Wis.), and #Doug Moore# (So.-Ladysmith, Wis.) each had 10 tackles. 

The Saints will be at defending UMAC Champion Northwestern College next Saturday. The Eagles fell today to Martin Luther College by a 9-6 score. The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 560-WEBC.