CSS HOLDS ON TO SPOIL CROWN’S HOMECOMING

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Henagin has career day on the ground

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ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team exacted revenge on Crown College with a 35-27 victory this afternoon at a rainy Storm Field.

Their first back-to-back wins in program history put the Saints above .500 for the first time in program history with a 3-2 record. They are also the only team in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) with a 2-0 record. The Storm, who defeated St. Scholastica in its inaugural Homecoming last year, falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

The story today was the running game for the Saints. #Christopher Henagin# (Sr.-Cloquet, Minn.) ran for a program record 272 yards on 32 carries and punched the ball in the end zone twice. He also had a team record 281 all-purpose yards. The Saints as a team also broke the school record for rushing yards in a game with 307 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns.

Just like last week, the Saints defense allowed a score on the opening possession when it took the Storm just six plays to go 59 yards with Tyler Hallblade running it in from three yards out to make it 6-0 Crown. After a CSS punt, the Storm were knocking on the door again, but #Travis Larson# (Fr.-Duluth, Minn./East) sacked Crown quarterback Adam Hayes and jarred the ball loose and the Saints recovered.

On the ensuing possession, the Saints drove the ball into Crown territory, but the drive stalled and the Saints gave the ball back to the Storm on downs. However, on the Storm's first play they gave ball right back with a fumble forced by #Scott Greening# (So.-Antigo, Wis.). St. Scholastica converted on this turnover as Henagin scored on a 13-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. A #Matt Holter# (Fr.-Proctor, Minn.) extra point gave the Saints a 7-6 lead.

Holter then executed a surprise on-side kick and the Saints had the ball again. CSS got the ball down to the Storm 1-yard-line and quarterback #Jake Olson# (So.-Esko, Minn.), back from injury, snuck it in to make the score 14-6 at halftime.

The Saints took the opening drive of the second half into Crown territory, but a fumble gave the ball to the Storm. On Crown's fourth play of the drive, defensive lineman #Zack Dubanoski# (Fr.-New Prague, Minn.) would intercept his second pass on the year and rumble into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown to make it 21-6. Dubanoski becomes the first Saints player to return an interception for a touchdown.

Crown responded and scored on a fourth down touchdown pass from the 5-yard-line to cut the CSS lead to 21-13. The Saints would not be deterred as they marched right down the field and Olson once again snuck it in from one yard out to make it 27-13. A #Mike VanMassenhove# (So.-Superior, Wis.) 41-yard reception was a big play on the drive.

It took just two plays for Crown to respond as a 47-yard touchdown run by Hallblade made it 27-20 at the end of the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter it was Henagin scoring on a 25-yard touchdown run, which is the longest TD run in program history. After a two-point conversion pass to VanMassenhove was successful the Saints had a 35-20 lead.

CSS was looking to put the game away with under 10 minutes to go and inside the Crown 20-yard-line, but Crown got a key interception and was still alive. The Storm capitalized as Robert Yang took a screen pass 46 yards to make it 35-27.

After a CSS three-and-out, the Storm had a chance to drive for the game-tying touchdown. Crown got the ball into CSS territory, but on third down, the Saints' #Dan Erickson# (Fr.-Duluth, Minn./Central) intercepted the Crown pass and the Saints needed just one first down to ice the game.

With three running plays getting the ball within a foot of the first down, Head Coach Greg Carlson had a tough decision to make. Go for it on your own 41-yard-line or punt the ball back to Crown with 50 seconds left. Carlson decided to go for it and Olson snuck it for the first down and the Saints went on to win 35-27.

The Saints out-gained the Storm 492-346. CSS was 7-for-14 on third down and held the ball for close to 35 minutes in the game.

Jake Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) was 15-of-24 for 185 yards through the air. He also ran 17 times for 37 yards. VanMassenhove led the Saints in receiving with five catches for 91 yards. #Sean Graskey# (Fr.-Superior, Wis.) had a team-high seven tackles. #Doug Moore# (So.-Ladysmith, Wis.), back from injury, had a sack in the contest.

The Saints will play their final home game this season next weekend when they host Macalester College at Public Schools Stadium. The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be heard live on ESPN Radio 560-WEBC. It can also be seen live on the web, courtesy of the iFan Sports Network, at csssaints.com.
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