St. Peter, Minn. – The Saint Scholastica football team traveled southwest to Saint Peter, Minn. to play the Gustavus Gusties, a MIAC Conference opponent, today, October 18. Today's Conference match up ended with the Gusties claiming the 45-6 victory.

First Half
The Saints' defense opened the afternoon with poise, forcing a Gustavus punt on the first drive and holding the Gusties to a 22-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter. Linebacker Samuel Haug (Brooklyn Park, MN/Concordia Academy) anchored the defensive unit with nine total tackles and a sack, while senior Austin Mundt (Deer River, MN/Deer River HS) continued his steady play, leading all tacklers with 13 stops on the day.

Quarterback Donald West (St. Paul, MN/Woodbury HS) connected with receivers Curtis Favors (St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS) and Teagen Lubinski (Crookston, MN/Crookston HS) to move the chains through the air, helping St. Scholastica sustain a strong 12-play drive late in the first quarter that chewed up nearly five minutes of clock. The Saints drove deep into Gustavus territory early in the second quarter, but a 31-yard field goal attempt by Jacob Andrews (Owatonna, MN/Medford HS) narrowly missed wide.

The Saints' defense kept the team within reach for much of the first half. Defensive linemen Nathan Miller (Rochester, MN/Century HS), Gabe Kattchee (La Crosse WI./Logan HS), and Isaac Johnson (St. Paul, MN/St. Paul Highland Park HS) each made key tackles for loss to stall Gustavus drives and force punts. Izaac Hutchinson (Albany, M/Albany HS) added an interception and 25-yard return in the second quarter, showcasing the unit's playmaking ability.

Second Half
After halftime, the Saints found their breakthrough moment. With Gustavus driving late in the third quarter, sophomore defensive back Ashton Gross (Osceola, WI/Osceola HS) jumped a pass at the sideline and sprinted 76 yards to the end zone for a pick-six, electrifying the St. Scholastica sideline. It was the Saints' lone touchdown of the day and their second interception return for a score this season.

That defensive stand energized the entire team, as St. Scholastica forced another three-and-out soon after. Punter Jacob Andrews (Owatonna, MN/Medford HS) helped flip the field repeatedly, averaging 34 yards per punt with two booming kicks over 50 yards.

The Saints continued to battle in the final frame, with strong defensive efforts from Juan Lomas (Willmar, MN/Willmar HS) (8 tackles) and Ian Strusz (Albertville, MN/St. Michael-Albertville HS) (8 tackles, 1 pass breakup). On offense, running back Jevon Williams (Willmar, MN/Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (ACGC)) and wideout Curtis Favors (St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS) pushed the pace, combining for over 100 total yards as the Saints kept grinding against a stout Gusties defense.

Despite the scoreline, St. Scholastica's defensive group stood out — forcing two interceptions and recording five tackles for loss — while the offense showed continued growth and balance, mixing the pass and run effectively behind senior quarterback Donald West (St. Paul, MN/Woodbury HS).

What's Next
The Saints (2-4, 1-4 MIAC) will travel once more, this time to play another MIAC Conference opponent, the Saint Olaf Oles (2-4, 1-4 MIAC) on Saturday, October 25. The game is scheduled for 1 P.M.