Box Score On a perfect night for football, one of the largest crowds in Klas Field history saw one of the wildest games ever played on the Hamline campus.

The Pipers racked up 314 yards total offense, blocked a punt for a touchdown, intercepted two passes and recovered an onside kick. But Gustavus Adolphus came up with plays when they absolutely needed them and held off HU, 42-35 before 2,138 fans. Kyle Johnson threw for 239 yards and a pair of touchdowns and averaged nearly 50 yards a punt. Austin Duncan added to his Hamline career records with 82 yards rushing and a pair of scores. Wide receiver Nick Kampa continued to make a name for himself with eight catches for 143 yards and a TD on a night when offense ruled the stat page. 

Despite that fact (the teams combined for over 800 yards total offense), it was a defensive play and the Piper special teams that had the crowd buzzing. 

Hamline trailed 28-7 in the second quarter when Darrian Smith intercepted a Mitch Hendricks and returned it to the GAC 1. Duncan barreled in for the score and the momentum shifted noticeably. The Pipers forced a punt and then marched 60 yards with Duncan going in from the six to cut the lead to 28-21 at halftime. 

The high-powered Gusties upped the lead to 42-21 after three quarters. It was srtill that way midway in the fourth when Jack Swanberg tore through and blocked a punt. Zach Schwalbach gobbled it up and ran in for the touchdown and it was suddenly 42-28. The Pipers then tried an onside kick and Swanberg won the race to the ball at the GAC 49. Seven plays later, Johnson found Naji El-Araby in the end zone and it was a once-score game again. GAC recovered the second onside kick but needed to convert a third and nine pass to avoid handing Hamline the ball again. 

Terry Pegues was a big presence all night, recording nine solo and two assisted tackles. Smith had a dozen total tackles (including one for loss) and the interception. 

Hamline fell to 2-1 overall, 0-1 in the MIAC. The Pipers are off next week. They face St. John's in the annual Homecoming game on October 3 at Klas. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.