The St. Thomas football team has thrived this season thanks to its defense, which led the Pioneer Football League in a number of categories heading into Saturday’s game against the PFL-leading Davidson Wildcats.
However, the Tommies had no answer for the Wildcats’ top-ranked offense, ending its three-game winning streak as they fell 42-15 at Richardson Stadium in Davidson, North Carolina.
Although the Tommies (5-3, 4-2 PFL) climbed within six points of Davidson early in the third quarter, they were outscored 21-0 the rest of the way.
“Very talented Davidson team, no question about it,” coach Glenn Caruso said of the Wildcats (7-1, 6-0 PFL), who won their seventh straight game. “But the way that our guys composed themselves, handled themselves, represented the University of St. Thomas… regardless of the score… you would be proud if you were not hearing or listening to how our guys conducted themselves today.”
Although Caruso praised his players for how they conducted themselves during the game, he said he was “really not happy” with his team’s overall performance in the game.
Coming into the matchup, the Tommies’ defense sat atop the PFL and ranked 11th nationally in rushing yards allowed (102). However, the Tommies couldn’t stop the Wildcats, who piled up 392 rushing yards and converted 14 of 18 opportunities on third and fourth down.
The Wildcats opened the scoring on a 37-yard TD rush by senior running back Coy Williams and made it 14-0 when senior quarterback Louis Colosimo connected on a 3-yard TD pass to senior tight end Sherrard Jackson.
The Tommies’ offense showed no signs of life until late in the second quarter, when Caruso and his staff pulled senior QB Cade Sexauer in favor of senior QB Tommy Dolan. Sexauer was 1-of-7 passing before being replaced by Dolan, who completed 18-of-31 passes and threw two interceptions.
Dolan capped off a 74-yard drive by completing a 4-yard pass to senior tight end Max Zimmerman with 40 seconds left in the first half, bringing the score to 14-7.
That score came after senior wide receiver Isaiah Hall blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt by Davidson and senior defensive back Luke Glenna returned the ball to the Tommies’ 26-yard line.
But the Wildcats struck right back thanks to a long kickoff return, needing only two plays to push their lead to 21-7 just 19 seconds before halftime.
The Tommies scored on their opening drive of the second half, after sophomore running back Hope Adebayo raced down the left side of the field for a 1-yard TD run. A successful two-point conversion attempt by sophomore placeholder Kolby Gartner brought the Tommies within a touchdown.
However, Davidson responded with a touchdown drive of its own, extending its lead to 28-15.
St. Thomas had fourth-quarter opportunities to edge closer, but two interceptions by Davidson junior safety Brian Jacobs led to two more Wildcat touchdowns and quelled any hopes for a comeback.
The Tommies hadn’t lost in three games, when they fell 27-24 to the University of San Diego.
“It doesn’t always feel good, the scoreboard doesn’t always look good, but it’s all a part of the process,” Caruso said.
St. Thomas will next face Drake University at noon on Saturday, Nov. 13, in Des Moines, Iowa in its final road match of the season.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.
Olivia Paradise can be reached at para4336@stthomas.edu.