Box Score Box Score

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Wisconsin Lutheran ran for a school record 319 yards on its way to a 27-13 victory over the St. Scholastica football team today at Ole Haugsrud Field.

The Saints fall to 1-2 overall, while the Warriors win their first game of the season and are also 1-2. Wisconsin Lutheran was CSS's first-ever opponent last season and came away with a 36-29 victory in Milwaukee.

Due to conflicts, today's Saints home game was played at Ole Haugsrud Field on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. That meant the Saints were playing their second game ever on natural grass with last week's game at Maranatha Baptist Bible College being the first.

The Warriors took the opening kickoff and marched the ball down field with Larry Hairl running it in from 19 yards out to make it 7-0 Wisconsin Lutheran. That was the lone score of the first quarter.

The next score wouldn't come until late in the second quarter as St. Scholastica was forced to punt after the Saints appeared to have a first down, but it was ruled that the quarterback threw the ball behind the line of scrimmage. So, the Warriors took over with two minutes to go in the half. On third-and-goal from the 2-yard-line Jesse Muldrow punched it in with 12 seconds left and the score at the half was 14-0 Warriors.

Wisconsin Lutheran out-gained the Saints 213-85 in the first half, including 145 yards on the ground. The Warriors had 12 first downs, while the Saints had just four.

After a Warrior turnover on their first possession of the second half, the Saints drove the ball down inside the Wisconsin Lutheran 9-yard-line. However on the third down, quarterback #Jake Olson# (So.-Esko, Minn.) would be hit from behind and lose the football. Fortunately for the Saints it rolled out of bounds, but Olson would be hurt on the play and leave the game. Backup #Alex Thiry# (So.-Cambridge, Minn./Braham) came in and faced a 4th-and-25 and just threw it up for grabs towards the end zone and #Keegan O'Neill# (So.-Superior, Wis.) came down with it to make the score 14-7.

The Warriors quickly silenced the Saints faithful responding with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped off with a Larry Hairl 11-yard touchdown scamper to make it 21-7. The key play of the drive was a fourth-and-one conversion. That was the score at the end of the third quarter.

The Saints started the fourth quarter with their best drive of the afternoon going 73 yards on 12 plays. The drive ended when Thiry found #Jonny Bennett# (So.-Blackduck, Minn.) for a diving 6-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone to make it 21-13.

CSS's #Chris Doran# (Fr.-Andover, Minn.) recovered his second fumble of the game on the next drive and the Saints had chance to tie the contest up. Unfortunately, the Wisconsin Lutheran defense held strong and forced the Saints into a three-and-out.

On the ensuing possession, the Warriors ran the ball exclusively, going 68 yards on 12 run plays with Larry Hairl scoring his third touchdown of the day from six yards out to make the score 27-13 with two minutes left. The Saints turned it over on downs to end the game as the Warriors prevailed 27-13.

Wisconsin Lutheran had a total of 415 yards of total offense, compared to 210 for St. Scholastica. The Warriors ran for a school record 319 yards on 53 carries, while the Saints were held to just six yards rushing.

Alex Thiry (Cambridge, Minn./Braham HS (Minn.-Duluth)) was 14-of-21 for 109 yards and two touchdowns though the air. Before Olson got injured he was 12-of-17 for 95 yards. #Tyler LeRoux# (So.-Esko, Minn.) and Jonny Bennett (Blackduck, Minn./Blackduck HS) each had nine receptions 65 yards. Keegan O'Neill (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) had six catches for 66 yards. #Sean Graskey# (Fr.-Superior, Wis.) led the defense again with 13 tackles. Chris Doran had a solid game with 10 tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries.

The Saints will be at home again next weekend when they begin conference action against the University of Minnesota-Morris. It will also be St. Scholastica's Homecoming. The game will take place at Malosky Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on ESPN Radio 560-WEBC and can be heard and seen at csssaints.com