MINNEAPOLIS – Wide receiver Nick Waldvogel hauled in 160 receiving yards in the No. 9-ranked St. Thomas football team’s homecoming-spoiling 55-6 victory over Augsburg Saturday afternoon at Edor Nelson Field.

A good chunk of Waldvogel’s total came on an 83-yard reception from quarterback John Gould in the second quarter. Waldvogel was pushed out at the 4-yard line, but a touchdown toss from Gould to wide receiver Ryan Bradley capped off the drive. Although Waldvogel didn’t score, he’d rather have the offense run smoothly.

“I’d rather just contribute to the offense than just score a touchdown,” Waldvogel said. “If our offense was rolling and I’m contributing and our running backs are playing well, (Gould’s) throwing the ball great, it’ll just come as a byproduct.”

Waldvogel was a crucial component of another Tommie touchdown in the third quarter. After St. Thomas (5-0 overall, 3-0 MIAC) forced Augsburg to punt, Waldvogel was back waiting for the kick. An Auggie player was first to touch the ball, but Waldvogel decided to scoop it up and run. Before being tackled near St. Thomas’ 31-yard line, he tossed the ball to defensive back Bennett Celichowski by Augsburg’s sideline.

Celichowski followed his blockers and returned it 69 yards for the touchdown. At this point, St. Thomas led 41-0 with 9:26 left in the third quarter. Waldvogel said he didn’t know how successful the play was until the end.

“I had no idea. I was on the ground, but when he … hurdled at the end it was pretty awesome,” Waldvogel said.

Defensive back Jordan Young intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for the touchdown earlier this year against Wisconsin-Eau Claire. That play is up for Division-III’s GEICO Play of the Year. Coach Glenn Caruso said the Waldvogel-Celichowski connection could also be considered for the award.

“That rivals (Young’s) play for Play of the Year,” Caruso said. “Tip of the hat to our special teams coaches and coach (Travis) Walch for making sure our kids understood.”

Defensive lineman Ryan Winter also made a highlight-reel play earlier in the game that Caruso called “fun.”

On Augsburg’s second possession of the game, Winter was able to shed his blocker and get his hands on a tipped pass from quarterback Ayrton Scott. Winter was bobbling the pass until he maintained possession and crossed the goal line.

“I was just bobbling it, and I was hoping it would come to back to me,” Winter said. “I bobbled it one too many, but then when I finally got it I was in the end zone.”

Winter’s score was the Tommies’ second touchdown of the game following a 12-yard run from running back Jack Kaiser at the 6:33 mark of the first quarter. Augsburg (2-3 overall, 1-2 MIAC) wasn’t as fortunate as the Tommies regarding points.

The Auggies entered Saturday averaging 476 yards and more than 36 points per game but recorded their only touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Scott connected with wide receiver Joey Sonnenfeld on a slant route that Sonnenfeld turned into a 46-yard touchdown reception. An unsuccessful two-point conversion made it 41-6 with 14:11 left in the fourth quarter.

“We wanted to stop the run right away and then get them in long situations where they have to pass,” Winter said.

Scott finished the day with 194 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown through the air and 70 yards on the ground. Coming into Saturday’s contest, the three-time All-MIAC honoree was second in the conference in passing and rushing yards per game.

The Tommies’ tough defense bumped him down to third in both categories after Saturday’s shellacking.

“It takes a team effort to slow a guy like (Scott) down,” Caruso said. “Didn’t completely stop him but probably came as close as anyone ever has, so I’m pretty happy with that.”

St. Thomas also shut down the MIAC’s fifth-leading rusher in running back Tyrell Martin. He averaged more than 100 yards in Augsburg’s previous four games but finished Saturday afternoon with 70 yards on 14 attempts.

Next Saturday, St. Thomas hosts Hamline (2-3 overall, 0-3 MIAC) for homecoming. Waldvogel is confident the offense is going to keep improving against the Pipers.

“I think offensively we just keep running the ball great, keep getting the comradery between the quarterbacks and the receivers,” Waldvogel said. “I think we’re just going to get better and better.”

Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.