Box Score It would be hard to imagine a better way to open the football season. For the sixth straight season, the Pipers broke from the gate with a win -- this time, an impressive 51-0 decision over Crown at Klein Bank Stadium in St. Bonifacius Saturday afternoon. 

QB Justice Spriggs picked up where he left off last season, throwing four first half TD passes as HU roared to a 28-0 first quarter lead and stretched it to 42-0 by halftime. Spriggs, who finished the day with 16 completions in 22 attempts for 222 yards, connecting with Nick Kampa, Josiah Harris, Harrison Jones and Kyle Ell for scores. Harris was the top receiver on the day with six catches form 76 yards. Kampa was close behind with five grabs for 53.

The Piper ground game was solid as well with a total of 185 yards on the day. Frank Mems was the top rusher with 58 yards on five carries. Brandon Miller went for 52 yards. Brendan Nachtrieb added a pair of short scores. 

The tone was set early. Hamline had the ball first and marched 80 yards in eight plays with Spriggs finding Harris for the season's first score. The Pipers scored on their next three drives as well with Spriggs teaming up with Jones for a 33-yarder and with Ell for an eight yarder. Jones' 51 yard punt return to the Crown 5 set Nachtrieb up for the fourth score of the quarter. 

In the second stanza, Spriggs found Kampa for a 13-yard strike. Nachtrieb dashed in from three yards away and HU had a huge lead after 30 minutes. Kale Wurdeman booted a 35-yard field goal and Spriggs ended the scoring with a 23-yard rushing TD of his own. Hamline ended up the day with a 407-166 edge in total yardage.

The Piper defense was sterling all day, posting the school's first shutout in eight years. Jordan Deno was the top tackler with seven but he had plenty of company. The Pipers recorded five sacks (Noah Jacobson and Mitchell Maday had two each) and eight tackles for loss. Dalton Pakkala had a 62-yard interception return and Devin Ulmen picked off one for 33 yards. 

The 51 point margin of victory was the largest by a HU team since a 75-20 win over Macalester in 2004. Ironically, the Scots, 31-20 winners over Carleton in their opener, are the Pipers' next foe. The teams play in the annual battle for The Paint Bucket on September 9 at Macalester Stadium. Game time is 7:00 p.m.