The St. Thomas football team may have been battling Wisconsin-La Crosse on the field Saturday afternoon, but it was trying to tackle a tougher opponent off the field.

Cancer was St. Thomas’ focus as the football team joined forces with the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund to “Tackle Cancer.”

“The foundation that has been set up by Randy and his wife is phenomenal,” coach Glenn Caruso said. “It has produced not just dollars but awareness for something that’s affected all of our lives.”

Every year, the Minnesota Football Coaches Association challenges every high school football team to host one Tackle Cancer game in September or October to raise money for cancer research.

In 2012, Caruso decided to expand the challenge to the collegiate level and make St. Thomas the first university in Minnesota to host a Tackle Cancer game.

“We heard that they were doing it in high schools, so we asked Randy if he wouldn’t mind if we did it,” Caruso said. “At that point there were no colleges doing it … We were the first. Now the entire MIAC is on board.”

The event has struck a chord with the St. Thomas community since its initiation two years ago. Many students, including sophomore Zach Lang and senior Laura VandenBoom, have family members who have battled the disease.

“It’s an ugly disease,” VandenBoom said. “My mom lived through it, and I’m so glad, but it was so hard on her and my family. Anything that helps toward a cure is just wonderful.”

“My aunt is a five-year survivor of breast cancer, and I think it’s awesome that St. Thomas is doing this,” Lang said. “An event like this allows the community to get together and support those battling cancer. Through the money that’s being raised, they get to see all the people that are behind them and fighting for them each and every day.”

The Highland Park High School football team helped St. Thomas host the event. Highland Park players were stationed at each entrance to O’Shaughnessy Stadium and walked amongst the crowd, collecting donations throughout the game.

Caruso said he didn’t know the total amount raised at Saturday’s game and may not for a while. The team, however, is planning on making a donation itself.

“It is an unbelievable opportunity to bring some awareness and raise some funds for something that affects just about everybody,” Caruso said.

According to the Cancer Fund’s website, last year’s Tackle Cancer games raised a total of $190,000 for cancer research.

Scott Sikich can be reached at siki3549@stthomas.edu.