Sophomore running back Hope Adebayo rushed for two touchdowns and senior cornerback Isaiah Hall contributed two interceptions and a blocked field goal, lifting the St. Thomas football team to a 21-14 victory over Drake, Saturday at Drake Stadium.
The win pulled the Tommies (6-3, 5-2 Pioneer Football League) into sole possession of third place in the PFL standings heading into their final game next Saturday—quite a feat for a team that jumped from Division III to Division I less than five months earlier. The Bulldogs (2-7, 1-6 PFL) remained stuck in ninth place.
“I don’t think anyone in the country outside of very few people … thought we’d be in this position that we’re in,” said Tommies coach Glenn Caruso. “I think that’s pretty freaking awesome.”
The Tommies have Adebayo to thank in part for their success after he contributed his ninth and tenth TDs of the season Saturday. He gave the offense the boost it needed after the Tommies racked up only 60 yards and converted only one of three third-down attempts in the first quarter.
His two-yard sprint past the goal line put the Tommies up 7-0 in the second quarter, capping an 84-yard drive that began after senior defensive back Joe Hird snagged the third of the Tommies’ five interceptions Saturday.
“Those two touchdowns, I had to credit that to the O-lineman,” Adebayo said. “I was just focused on the next play and just thankful for the guys stepping up.”
Adebayo’s second touchdown came with 13 seconds remaining in the first half, when he powered eight yards through a sea of blue jerseys. Adebayo ended the game with 91 rushing yards, behind senior running back Nick Rice, who had 94.
Rice also added a score of his own late in the third quarter on a 28-yard TD run and dive into the end zone that put the Tommies up 21-7.
The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter trailing 21-7 and closed to within a touchdown after junior running back Caden Meis ran in for a TD with 5:26 remaining.
But Hall quelled the Bulldogs’ rally with his fourth-quarter interception, and the Tommies were able to run out the final five minutes with relative ease.
The St. Thomas defense came up clutch throughout the game with five interceptions, a blocked field goal and a blocked punt.
“I love how we played on defense for most of the game,” Caruso said. “I think we were able to put our offense in some good situations.”
Hall blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt that would have brought the Bulldogs within four points of the Tommies late in the third quarter.
“He’s got speed to spare, he’s got good ball skills,” Caruso said of Hall. “He’s a talented wide receiver playing cornerback, so when the ball’s in the air, I’m just very calm.”
Beyond Hall’s impressive stats, the Tommies’ defense held the Bulldogs to only 73 rushing yards.
Saturday’s matchup marked the first time St. Thomas has played in Des Moines since 1925 and the first time the Tommies faced Drake in a football game. The victory evened the Tommies’ Division I record in the state of Iowa to 1-1 after the Tommies 44-3 loss to Northern Iowa on Sept. 18.
St. Thomas closes its inaugural Division I season against Presbyterian College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
“Next week’s going to be a wild one, so if you want to see a wild one, come to the field,” Caruso said.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.