Notables -CSS clinched at least a share of the conference title with the win.-CSS scored 34 unanswered points through the first three quarters before giving up a safety-Preston Robinson (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) led the ground game for the Saints rushing for a career high 176 yards on 25 carries which is good for 8th all-time in the CSS record book. He also scored five total touchdowns which is a new school record-If not for the safety, the Saints would have achieved consecutive shutouts for the first time in school history.
MORRIS, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica Saints football team kept up its unbeaten record when it downed the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars Saturday afternoon by a final score of 40-2 behind a career day for
Preston Robinson (Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) where he totaled 176 yards and five touchdowns.
It was all CSS from the very beginning of this game. Robinson got the scoring started in the first quarter with the first of his five touchdowns, this one coming from 22 yards out, just 4:50 into the game. Robinson would score twice more in the first quarter alone from two and four yards out putting the Saints up early 20-0.
The second quarter saw a scoreless effort from both sides making the halftime score still 20-0 in favor of the Saints.
In the third quarter Robinson would again shine running in from six yards with 9:46 to go in the quarter, then running in the record setting touchdown from two yards with 5:19 still remaining in the third. Two
Mike Theismann (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo HS) extra points plus the 12 for Robinson set the score at 34-0 late in the third.
The lone two points for Minnesota Morris came via a late third quarter safety. Starting from its own five yard line and following two rushes for minimum yardage, quarterback
Tyler Harper (Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS) dropped back to pass and was sacked by the Cougar defense in the endzone for the safety making the score 34-2 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Saints scored just one touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) ran in the sixth rushing touchdown of the game for the Saints this one coming from three yards out. After a mishandled extra point the final score of the game was St. Scholastica 40, Minnesota-Morris 2.
Thompson finished the day with four rushes for 15 yards and the touchdown while Harper threw for eight completions on 13 attempts for 107 yards. Defensively the Saints were led by
Alex Mangan (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) who collected 12 tackles with 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack for 10 yards. CSS piled up 10 total tackles for loss and five sacks in another impressive performance.
CSS (9-0, 8-0 UMAC) will now play Greenville College (Ill.), who were victors today, next Saturday in the regular season finale at Public Schools Stadium. The winner will receive the conference's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III playoffs.
