On a cold and windy Saturday in Valparaiso, Indiana, two touchdowns by senior quarterback Cade Sexauer highlighted the No. 25 St. Thomas football team’s 34-7 road win over Valparaiso.

The win marked the eighth straight win for the Tommies (8-1, 6-0 Pioneer League), who also defeated the Beacons (5-5, 3-3) last season at home 20-13.

“We have this success we have no matter what level, no matter what state, no matter what players are there,” coach Glenn Caruso told ESPN Radio after the game. “We have that success because the guys care about doing things the right way, and I felt today was very much a microcosm of that because of the discipline that we displayed.”

Despite their discipline, three St. Thomas turnovers in the first quarter threatened to stunt the Tommies’ usually dominant offense.

On the second play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Cade Sexauer committed the first turnover of the game on a short-throw interception by Valparaiso senior linebacker Ben Hines.

Four plays later, the St. Thomas defense had Sexauer’s back as sophomore linebacker Johnathan Bunce sacked Valparaiso’s quarterback and forced a fumble. Junior defensive back Grif Wurtz picked up the fumble and was off to the races for a 79-yard TD with no Valparaiso players near him.

The score marked the ninth straight game this season that the Tommies have scored a first-quarter touchdown.

Up 7-0, the Tommies’ offense was rolling on the ground game in the first quarter until the weather likely played a part in Sexauer’s second intercepted pass, bobbling off the hands of senior running back Josh Komis and into a defender’s hands.

On the next St. Thomas drive, Valparaiso forced another turnover; this time on a St. Thomas fumble that the Beacons recovered at the Tommies’ 17-yard line.

The defense, again, bailed out the offense as senior defensive back Luke Glenna intercepted a Valparaiso pass in the end zone. Glenna’s interception, his third of the season, later led to a 9-yard TD rush by Sexauer to put the Tommies up 14-0 at halftime.

“Every time something happened with the offense that was bad, defense answered,” Caruso said. “It’s just another brother’s opportunity to stand up and stand strong for our university and for our brotherhood.”

Caruso said “it’s not easy” to stay positive after three turnovers in one quarter, but commended Sexauer for his leadership and resiliency. Sexauer finished the game with 128 yards by air and 26 yards on the ground.

In the third quarter, the Tommies extended their lead as Sexauer hit sophomore receiver Andrew McElroy for a 50-yard score, McElroy’s eighth TD of the season.

However, the Beacons responded with a touchdown of their own on their ensuing drive as fifth-year running back Aaron Dawson dove over the St. Thomas offensive line for a 1-yard score.

Despite giving up a touchdown, the St. Thomas defense was dominant in the game, allowing the Beacons just 187 yards on offense and sacking Valparaiso first-year quarterback Michael Appel eight times. Three of those sacks came on the Beacons’ last drive of the game, which all included junior linebacker Malaki-Milton Jackson.

“Everybody comes into focus in their picture a little bit differently, and it’s taken a while for Malaki to come into focus, but the picture is pretty bright right now, and he’s shining under those lights,” Caruso said.

The Tommies finished the game with two more scores; the first coming on an 89-yard kickoff return by first-year running back Owen Kanzler for the Tommies’ second kickoff return for a touchdown in the past two games.

Prior to Kanzler’s touchdown, Valparaiso recovered an onside kick, but an offsides penalty called the play back for a re-kick.

The final Tommie TD came via a 3-yard rush by sophomore running back Shawn Shipman early in the fourth quarter.

“This team has found so many different ways to win, and each week is like a new journey–a new mystery,” Caruso said.

With the win over Valparaiso, the St. Thomas football team is one win away from a PFL championship in just its second season at the DI level.

“You’re only in this position if you come to work every day, and you produce every week,” Caruso said. “Today starts not only our senior week, but our very first championship week, and that’s pretty cool.”

The Tommies take on Stetson Saturday, Nov. 12 at noon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

TommieMedia did not attend the game.

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