Even when opponents know what's coming, they have not been able to stop Jordan Roberts and the Tommies rushing attack in 2015. Photo by Caleb Williams, d3photography.com

By Adam Turer
D3sports.com

All season long, St. Thomas has imposed its will on opponents.

The Tommies have developed a confidence and trust and eliminated apprehension. They aren't afraid to fail, because they believe they will fail better than any other team in the country.

Linfield, Wabash, and St. John's defeated every opponent that stood in their path this season, except for one team. That team is now one win away from hoisting the Walnut and Bronze for the first time. St. Thomas didn't just earn four wins against otherwise unbeaten foes this year (two wins against the Johnnies); the Tommies beat them, convincingly.

"There's been more of an attitude adjustment. We're leaving it all out there. We're not playing not to lose, not to make mistakes," said senior linebacker Tim McClanahan. "We want to impose our will and make [opponents] be who we want them to be. We want to stop them from being what they want to be."

The Tommies return to Salem for the second time in four years, boasting the nation's second-ranked scoring offense and defense. St. Thomas has been tested this year. Seven times, the Tommies controlled the game from start to finish, according to head coach Glenn Caruso; four times, it took the team some time to find its rhythm; three times, the team had to mount a comeback. Every time, the Tommies emerged victorious with a comfortable margin of victory.

"One of the things I'm most proud of is that we are a very intuitive group and we do a really good job of figuring out what we need to do in that game during that game," said Caruso. "This is the most dynamic team I've had in 20 years of coaching. Dynamic means you can find different ways to win games. This team has it because they're tremendously adjustable."

The semifinal win over Linfield was a testament to the Tommies' versatility. John Gould only attempted 11 passes and completed five for just 55 yards. He threw one interception and no touchdowns. The Tommies defeated Linfield 38-17, and led 30-3 going into the final quarter, behind Jordan Roberts' 33 carries for 256 yards and three touchdowns. They found how they could exploit the Wildcats' ferocious defense and controlled the game from the beginning.

"We try to wear people down and just keep chipping away and chipping away and eventually runs start to crack," said Roberts. "We really believe in that as an offense. Our offensive line, I feel like they get stronger as the game goes on."

Roberts, running behind a veteran offensive line, is now the program's single season rushing record holder with 1,957 yards in 2015. He grew up idolizing Walter Payton and his "Never die easy" motto and mentality.

"From a very young age, I've tried to emulate that and I still run like that today," said Roberts. "With no selfishness in my heart, I try to run for my brothers and for God, first and foremost. I have a lot of confidence in running the ball no matter who we're going against."

The Stagg Bowl will be a matchup of teams whose weaknesses have not yet been exposed this season. Both teams rely on stout defenses and strong running games. Each team has a quarterback capable of uncorking a 300-yard passing game, as both Gould and Mount Union's Taurice Scott have done this postseason.

"We get a little more enjoyment out of running, but at the end of the day I know that the coaches are going to give us the best play calls to be the most productive on the field," said tackle David Simmet, one of two returning starters from the 2012 Stagg Bowl team.

There will be moments of adversity, possibly more than St. Thomas has faced all season. But, the Tommies are less concerned about what might go wrong and are much more focused on how they will respond.

"We are who we are because we embrace our failures more than most do. A lot of it has to do with mitigating anxiety and that's something we worked extremely hard on this offseason," said Caruso.

Few coaches openly discuss failure as much as Caruso. He vocalized his failure to capitalize on the Tommies' last trip to Salem, a 28-10 loss to the Purple Raiders. He learned from mistakes made in the week leading up to the game and the game itself. The Tommies have altered their travel and meal plans based on the errors made in 2012. There's no reason to think they won't be able to adjust Friday night's game plan in similar fashion.

"One of the things we've done a good job with is we've grown throughout the year," said Caruso. "We're a team that prides ourself on our mental toughness and understands that there are things that are beyond our control."

The Tommies are more familiar with the path to Salem. They are more comfortable with their depth and experience at every position. They know that they can just be themselves and continue to do what has brought them to this point.

"I don't think it's a secret when you come and watch St. Thomas. For our kids to still continue to produce, I think is really neat when you know the run game's coming," said Caruso. "There is a belief that if I do my job, the guy next to me will do his. We are where we are because we trust each other."

The Stagg Bowl is going to come down to who fails better. Which team handles the adversity and makes the necessary adjustments. Which team combines its mental toughness with physicality.

"It will take the absolute best focus from us to try and slow them down. We know that this is a different animal," said Caruso. "The team that is going to be able to mitigate some of that failure, because it's going to happen, is going to have the game go their way."

This time around, the Tommies know what to expect. There is a comfort in their focus on being the best versions of themselves.