Running back Jack Kaiser’s 6-yard touchdown run on a halfback toss put the No. 18-ranked St. Thomas football team up 27-20 over Concordia-Moorhead at halftime Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

Following an unnecessary roughness call on fullback Dominic Truoccolo on Kaiser’s touchdown run, Concordia blocked kicker Paul Grapuner’s PAT.

No. 21-ranked Concordia (7-1 overall, 5-1 MIAC) is second in the conference standings and remains in the hunt for an at-large bid in the playoffs. For both teams, a win likely means a spot in the postseason, while a loss would end any hope for a playoff bid.

On the first possession of the game, Concordia quarterback Griffin Neal found wide receiver Brandon Zylstra on 20-yard fly route for a touchdown with 11:04 left in the first quarter.

Following a Quarterback Alex Fenske fumble, Neal broke free on a triple option for a 29-yard touchdown run to put the Cobbers up 13-0 over the Tommies (6-2 overall, 4-2 MIAC) with 8:17 left in the first quarter.

After nearly diving across the pylon, running back Jack Kaiser finished the 6-play, 81-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to put the score 13-7 with 5:33 left in the first quarter.

Following a Cobber fumble that linebacker Harry Pitera recovered, wide receiver Nick Waldvogel’s patience for a hole to open allowed him to break through for an 8-yard touchdown run with 4:16 in the first quarter to give the Tommies at 14-13 lead.

Fenske connected with wide receiver Charlie Dowdle on an out-and-up route for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 8:21 left in the first half to put the Tommies ahead 21-13.

With 2:41 remaining in the first half, Neal dove across the goal line on a quarterback sneak for a 1-yard touchdown run to put the score at 21-20.

Kyle Jonas can be reached at jona7984@stthomas.edu.