Despite leading by just three points at the end of the first quarter, the St. Thomas football team exploded offensively during the remainder of the game, scoring 29 unanswered points in a 32-6 win over Michigan Tech Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

The game marked the Tommies’ second win over the Huskies (1-1, 0-0 Great Lakes) at the Division I level. The teams last faced on Sept. 10, 2021 as the Tommies earned their first DI win 12-9.

Although the Tommies (1-1, 0-0 Pioneer League) were without last season’s lead rusher and scorer in running back Hope Adebayo, the St. Thomas football team had other members step up offensively. One of those players was sophomore running back Shawn Shipman, who rushed for two touchdowns in the game.

Shipman, who played in nine games last season, scored his first DI touchdown on the fifth play from scrimmage on a 1-yard rush set up by a 58-yard breakthrough sprint by Shipman just three plays earlier.

The Huskies responded quickly with a field goal to bring the score within three with 4:34 left in the first quarter. However, the St. Thomas offense never looked back after the fact, scoring four unanswered touchdowns in a row.

The Tommies most exciting touchdown of the game came in the second quarter on a blocked punt attempt by St. Thomas first-year linebacker Ryan Sever. As Sever blocked the ball, it rolled into the endzone and the St. Thomas special teams recovered.

Senior quarterback Cade Sexauer threw for another touchdown on a 33-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Andrew McElroy, his first of the season.

The Huskies could not get much going offensively in the game as the Tommie defense held them to just 150 total yards compared to the nearly 300 by the Tommies.

Shipman’s second score came with 19 seconds left in the half on another short rush to the endzone. He ended the game with 157 total yards.

The Huskies struck once again late in the game as sophomore kicker Drew Wyble was good from 40 yards out. The Huskies were 2-for-2 on field goals on the day, whereas the Tommies’ junior kicker Louis Hyde only made 2-of-5 attempts on the day.

The Tommies added one last punch when junior placekicker Kolby Gartner picked up an 11-yard run on a fake field goal attempt.

The Tommies take on Lincoln University (California) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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