Defensive back Chris Fondakowski and cornerback Mark Dowdle run for a lose ball after a blocked PTA. The Tommies were able to run the ball back for two points. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
Tight end Jackson Hull runs a pass from Jacques Perra towards the end zone. Hull picked up 84 yards off of the run. (Natalie Koerbitz/ TommieMedia)
Running back Josh Parks charges into the Bethel defensive wall on one of his runs. Parks totaled 31 rushing yards against Bethel. (Natalie Koerbitz/ TommieMedia)
Tight end Matt Christenson races towards the end zone against Bethel. Christenson had 17 receiving yards in the game. (Natalie Koerbitz/ TommieMedia)
The Tommie offense celebrates a 24-yard Jacques Perra to Gabe Green touchdown pass in the first quarter. Green tallied 82 receiving yards on four receptions Saturday afternoon against Bethel. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
Wide receiver Tanner Vik pulls in 20-yard pass from quarterback Ronnie Jones for a first down in the fourth quarter. Vik recorded 71 receiving yards on two attempts in week nine against Bethel. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)
St. Thomas and Bethel square off at O’Shaughnessy stadium. The Tommies have defeated the Royals in eight of their last 10 match-ups. (Natalie Koerbitz/ TommieMedia)
Linebacker Luke Swenson catches a lateral pass from Chris Fondakowski to return for a 98 yard extra point return… (Natalie Koerbitz/ TommieMedia)
Wide receiver Gabe Green strides into the end zone to score against Bethel. Green received a 24-yard pass from quarter back Jacques Perra. (Natalie Koerbitz/TommieMedia)
Wide receiver Tom Loeffler (Natalie Koerbitz/ TommieMedia)
Fullback Jeremy Molina pulls in a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacques Perra to put the Tommies at a 24-6 advantage over Bethel. The Tommies outgained the Royals 510-122 yards in total offense. (TommieMedia/Carolyn Meyer)
Special teams were crucial Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium as the St. Thomas won its seventh football game of the season 58-13 over Bethel.
Defensive back Chris Fondakowski and kicker Bryan Steinsapir led the Tommies (6-0 MIAC, 7-1 overall) as the special teams put up 20 points against the Royals (3-3 MIAC, 3-5 overall).
Fondakowski scored a touchdown after blocking and recovering a Bethel punt, giving St. Thomas a 31-13 lead midway through the second quarter. He also recovered a blocked extra point that led to a two-point score for the Tommies.
Steinsapir made all six of his extra point attempts in addition to a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. He has converted on 41 of his 44 extra point kicks and five of his eight field-goal tries this season.
“It shows how seriously we take our special teams,” Steinsapir said. “(Special teams) coach Walch does a great job making sure we are at the top of our game down to every single detail, and it’s nice to see (that dedication) pay off.”
The Tommie defense held Bethel to minus-7 yards. This was the third time this season that St. Thomas has held an opponent to a negative rushing total. The unit also recorded two sacks and forced two fumbles while allowing only one offensive touchdown.
But the pass defense didn’t fare as well. The secondary gave up 129 yards through the air, the most yards it has allowed since week five against Augsburg. Even though St. Thomas ranks as the second best passing defense in the MIAC, giving up only 144 yards a game, Fondakowski still thinks the secondary has room to improve.
“Our pressure is hitting home, so there’s nothing we can do except have the corners make better plays,” he said. “That’s on me and Mark (Dowdle), we know that. We’ll be fine along the way.”
Quarterback Jacques Perra got the offense off to a hot start by throwing three first-half touchdown passes. He finished with 13 completions on 26 passes for 286 yards.
The Tommies have two more regular season games, against Gustavus and St. Olaf, before the playoffs begin. Coach Glenn Caruso was pleased with the way his team played Saturday and how they have progressed this season.
“(I’m) probably as happy as I’ll allow myself to be at this time of year,” he said. “Right now, we’re getting better every week. We’re never going to say ‘we’re there,’ but we’re moving in the right direction.”
Brady Halbmaier can be reached at halb2084@stthomas.edu.