An explosive defense and two touchdowns by running back Nick Waldvogel helped the St. Thomas football team take a 21-0 halftime lead over the Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

But quarterback Matt O’Connell suffered a lower-body injury late in the second quarter and required assistance to leave the field. John Gould replaced him at quarterback for the remainder of the half.

In the game’s opening possession, the Tommies scored on a 32-yard double reverse touchdown pass from O’Connell to Waldvogel. Kicker Paul Graupner added the extra point to put the Tommies ahead 7-0 with 12:00 remaining in the first quarter.

After a La Crosse punt, the Tommies scored on the ensuing possession on a 40-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Jack Gilliland. O’Connell pitched the ball to Kaiser, who handed it to Gilliland on the reverse. Dipping and dodging his way through the Eagles defense, Gilliland tiptoed down the sideline for the last 10 yards for the touchdown. Graupner added the extra point to extend the St. Thomas lead to 14.

La Crosse was only able to muster only 43 total yards in the first half, and the Tommie defense held the Eagles to 9 rushing yards. St. Thomas applied consistent pressure on La Crosse quarterback Colton Peterson, forcing two fumbled snaps and multiple sacks in the first half.

Gould’s second pass attempt after he entered the game was caught by Waldvogel for a 10-yard touchdown with 1:58 left in the first half. Graupner added the extra point to make the score 21-0 in favor of the Tommies at the half.

Tom Pitzen can be reached at pitz2014@stthomas.edu.