Tommies shift focus to Hamline after Bethel loss

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Defensive back Josh Carey said the St. Thomas football team’s defense will focus on stopping standout Hamline running back Austin Duncan when the No. 15-ranked Tommies take on the Pipers Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

“I know they have a pretty good running back, and they’re an up-and-coming program, so they’re going to give us their best shot just like any other team,” Carey said.

Duncan has rushed for 885 yards and six touchdowns this season for a Piper (2-4 overall, 1-4 MIAC) offense that averages 379.5 yards and 20.5 points per game. Coach Glenn Caruso said the Tommies must be balanced on defense, stop the Piper run game and put pressure on quarterback Tim Bona.

Defensive back Sean Hamlin evades Pipers in last year's matchup between St. Thomas and Hamline University. Hamlin had 5 tackles and an interception in the Tommies' 28-21 loss to Bethel last week (Rosie Murphy/TommieMedia).
Defensive back Sean Hamlin evades Pipers in last year’s matchup between St. Thomas and Hamline University. Hamlin had 5 tackles and an interception in the Tommies’ 28-21 loss to Bethel last week (Rosie Murphy/TommieMedia).

“I think (Hamline) made a legitimate commitment to developing a sound run game,” Caruso said. “Led by Avery Duncan, who is, I think, a fantastic running back- tough, fast, good vision, hits a hole well. I just really like him.”

Linebacker Tremayne Williams anchors the Tommie defensive core with 25 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season, followed by Carey with 23.5 tackles. St. Thomas’ defense allowed 28 points in the loss against Bethel last week, the most the Tommies (4-2 overall, 2-2 MIAC) have given up in the 2013 season.

“We only played at a high level for about 20 minutes of a 60 minute game,” Caruso said. “So for us, it’s going to be about not only playing at that high level, but sustaining it for four quarters.”

Losing to the No. 5-ranked Royals could have hurt the Tommies’ playoff chances, but Carey remains confident his team has a shot at post-season play.

“Our team is a never quit, never die team,” Carey said. “From here on out, there’s only one thing we can do, and that’s be the best us we can be. We talk about it every day, so that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

Offensively, the St. Thomas averages 432.2 yards and 33.5 points per game this season. In the three games he’s played this season, quarterback Alex Fenske has thrown for 448 yards and two touchdowns. The Piper defense has allowed 411 yards and 41 points per game this season.

St. Thomas put up 552 offensive yards when it faced Hamline in 2012, defeating the Pipers 51-9. Caruso said even though Hamline has struggled at times, the team has improved from last season.

Wide receiver Dan Noehring agreed that the Tommies can’t take the Pipers at face value.

“They’re doing a lot of different things this year, and it seems to be working for them,” Noehring said. “The more games they play, the better they get.”

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