An interception by junior defensive back Johnson Fallah at midfield set up a 7-yard scoring run by senior running back Tom Loeffler, giving St. Thomas a 7-3 halftime lead over Valparaiso in the Tommies’ first Division 1 homecoming game Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

The touchdown with 8:38 remaining in the second quarter marked the first score for the Tommies (2-2, 1-1 Pioneer Football League) in 12 consecutive possessions dating back to last week’s 27-24 loss at San Diego.

A missed 32-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Louis Hyde in the first quarter marked his first of the season, while the Beacons (1-4, 1-1 PFL) missed a 42-yard field goal of their own with 2:34 left in the second quarter.

St. Thomas came into the game averaging the fewest penalty yards per contest in the PFL, being flagged for only 35.0 penalty yards per game through its first four contests, but the first half was filled with penalties from both sides.

A 15-yard pass interference penalty against the Tommies set up the only score of the half for the Beacons. Junior kicker Brian Bartholomew made a 32-yard field goal with 1:19 left in the first quarter to mark the first score of the game.

The touchdown marked Loeffler’s third score of the season. The Tommies only have 77 yards of offense in the first half as compared to the Beacons’ 147 yards of offense.

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