First-year running back Gabe Abel rushed for two touchdowns in the first half as the St. Thomas football team took a 20-14 lead at halftime over Drake Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

The Bulldogs (0-6, 0-3 PFL) are the first team this season to keep the Tommies (4-1, 2-0 Pioneer Football) out of the end zone on their opening drive. The Tommies were stopped on fourth-and-1 on their opening drive.

Instead, it was the Bulldogs that scored on their opening drive this time as senior quarterback Ian Corwin connected with senior defensive back Gage Vander Leest on a 2-yard pass.

St. Thomas stopped the Bulldogs on their second drive as junior defensive back Grif Wurtz intercepted Drake senior quarterback Ian Crowin’s pass at the Drake 30-yard line.

It took two plays for St. Thomas senior quarterback Cade Sexauer to find the end zone as he hit sophomore wide receiver Andrew McElroy for a 24-yard score to tie the game at seven.

Sexauer finished the half 11-of-14 for 137 pass yards and a touchdown.

Abel’s first touchdown came with 8:28 left in the second quarter as he rushed for six yards through traffic.

Abel and sophomore running back Hope Adebayo split time in the first half, with Abel leading the team with 36 yards rushing. Adebayo had 14 yards at the half.

Sophomore running back Shawn Shipman is out for the game.

Abel scored again on the following St. Thomas drive on a 1-yard rush after a near-TD rush by Sexauer put the Tommies in a fourth-and-inches situation at the goal line.

During the final 2:10, the Bulldogs played hurry-up as they took it 72 yards in 1:59 for a touchdown as Corwin connected with graduate student tight end Matt Hartlieb for an 8-yard score. Corwin ended the half 12-of-19 passing.

Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.