Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
No. 3-ranked St. Thomas had no turnovers, never trailed and used three big gains in Saturday's 38-19 home win over St. John's in the second round of the Division III football playoffs.
The Tommies (12-0) will learn on Sunday whether they will have a home game against 12-0 Wabash at noon on Dec. 5.
UST's eight-year coach Glenn Caruso improved to 13-5 in postseason games (12-1 at home) with Saturday's victory. The Toms have won 10 in a row at home since a September 2014 loss to the Johnnies. They beat their archrival SJU twice in one season, a first for either team in a 85-game rivalry that began Nov. 28, 1901.
A school postseason record crowd of 8,025 watched the Tommies break to a 22-0 lead in the first 25:00 on the clock. After SJU scored on a 38-yard TD pass from Nick Martin to Nick Simon to climb within 22-7 with 2:11 left in the first half, Tommie senior Jack Gilliland's 76-yard kickoff return set up UST at the Johnnies' 7-yard line, and three plays later Jordan Roberts scored a 1-yard TD.
The Tommie defense had a forced and recovered fumble; two interceptions; a safety; three sacks and three other tackles for loss and five pass break-ups. The Johnnie QBs had only five interceptions in 12 games this season, but four came against St. Thomas.
Roberts, who rushed for 230 yards in a 35-14 win at St. John's on Sept. 26, ran 33 times for 126 yards and three TDs. He's just the second MIAC player ever to score 30 TDs in one season (28 rushing, two receiving).
UST had the ball for 20:29 of the game's first 24:35 and built a 22-0 lead.
Martin left the game due to a concussion on the Johnnies' final possession of the first half. Senior quarterback Johnny Benson stepped in and finished with 114 yards passing, including a 10-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Josh Bungum to end the scoring with 58 seconds to play. He was intercepted twice and sacked three times.
Senior All-American running back Sam Sura was held to 54 yards on 18 carries. His 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter tied him with Matt Malmberg (1991-94) for SJU's all-time record of 48 career rushing touchdowns.
Bungum caught four passes for 61 yards, while Simon ended the day with three receptions for 80 yards.
Senior linebacker Drake Matuska and junior defensive tackle Peyton Thiry led SJU with 13 tackles apiece. Thiry added 1.5 tackles for a loss and half a quarterback sack.