Sophomore running back Hope Adebayo ran for four touchdowns and the St. Thomas defense forced four turnovers, propelling the Tommies to a 38-7 road win over Stetson University Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand, Fla.
The victory marked the Tommies’ first Pioneer Football League road win and their first against a Division I opponent in program history. The matchup also marked the first time the Tommies (4-2, 3-1 PFL) have played in Florida since the 1949 Cigar Bowl between St. Thomas and Missouri Valley College.
But it was Adebayo who stole the show Saturday. He more than doubled his season rushing yardage, accounting for 182 of the Tommies’ 278 rushing yards. That included a 78-yard open-field scoring run on the first play from scrimmage.
“Unbelievable job by Hope Adebayo,” coach Glenn Caruso said in a post-game interview with ESPN Radio. “Anyone who knows the program knows how hard he works.”
Three of Adebayo’s touchdowns came in the first quarter, giving the Tommies a quick 21-0 lead over the Hatters (2-4, 0-3 PFL). His first touchdown came just 19 seconds into the game.
Adebayo’s second and third scores came with less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter on 3-yard and 12-yard runs, respectively.
A 53-yard interception return to the 2-yard line by junior linebacker Tommy Shelstad set up Adebayo’s second score, while a forced fumble at the Stetson 29-yard line recovered by senior defensive back Tommy Fuller set up the third.
“The forced fumble might have been the play of the game in terms of the feeling of ‘Okay, you now have control of your own destiny,’” Caruso said.
The Tommies’ offense came into the matchup averaging 130 yards rushing per game, but had 176 by halftime.
Senior quarterback Cade Sexauer added another score for the Tommies with 2:15 left in the first half on a 2-yard quarterback sneak. His touchdown came after the Tommies’ defense held Stetson University to a turnover on downs.
The Hatters were 0-4 on fourth-down conversions against the Tommies, who held them to 7-of-19 on third-down efforts. Seven different Tommies combined for six sacks in the contest, two coming from Shelstad.
St. Thomas entered the game with the No. 1 defense in the PFL, holding opponents to just 275 total yards and 13 points per game. The Tommies stayed well below these numbers Saturday, holding the Hatters to 240 total yards of offense.
For the fourth time this season, St. Thomas opened the second half with a score. Adebayo ran for his fourth touchdown of the game on a 14-yard plunge into the end zone with 12:54 left in the third quarter.
The Hatters added their only score less than two minutes later when graduate student quarterback Alex Piccirilli ran in an uncontested 6-yard touchdown.
An interception on the goal line by Tommies first-year defensive back Yusuf Leak helped stifle any second half comeback hopes for the Hatters.
Caruso has previously criticized his team for playing one good half of football a game, but said he was proud of his team’s full-game effort against Stetson.
“Huge step today to be able to keep the foot on the gas and to continue to put pressure on … and clean up some things,” Caruso said.
Saturday’s victory increased Caruso’s win streak to 91-0 when the Tommies have scored 25 or more points in a game.
St. Thomas will take a week off before returning to action at home against Marist College on Saturday, Oct. 30.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.