SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University football team began a three-game home stretch with a meeting against Gustavus Adolphus at Klas Field on Saturday. Fresh off a 77-point offensive performance at St. Scholastica a week ago, the Gusties were held to almost half of that amount in their 44-7 victory over the Pipers. The time of possession battle was won by Hamline, who had the ball for 32:52 against Gustavus's 27:08.
Hamline falls to 2-4, 0-4 MIAC, while Gustavus improves to 4-2, 3-1 MIAC.
Gustavus Adolphus 44, Hamline 7
The Gusties converted on their opening drive, where Dalton Thelen began his stellar outing with three grabs for 29 yards throughout the series. One of those catches was a 16-yard touchdown reception from quarterback George Sandven that made the score 7-0 with 10:35 left in the first quarter, where things stayed through 15:00 of play.
Hamline returned the favor with a score in the beginning stages of the second quarter. Their 18-play, 7:54 drive ended with Eli Danielson's 10-yard touchdown grab from Alejandro Villanueva with 11:36 left in the second quarter that knotted things at 7-7.
The Gusties answered right back on their next drive, which took just three plays that culminated with Matthew Carreon's 28-yard touchdown catch that widened the score to 14-7 with 10:26 left in the second. That was the start of a string of 37 unanswered points that secured Gustavus a 44-7 victory over Hamline.
Villanueva went 30-of-51 passing for 307 yards and one touchdown. Charlie Wilson came through with 15 catches for 138 yards to lead the Pipers receivers, followed by Eli Danielson's five catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. Hamline netted just 28 yards on the ground. Caleb Lueders and Zach Griebel each had 11 tackles for the Pipers defense.
Sandven finished with 27-of-38 passing for 336 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one each to Matthew Carreon and Dalton Thelen. Tanner Rennie led the Gusties ground game with 72 yards on 13 carries. Graham Nistler paced Gustavus with 11 tackles.
The Pipers will host Augsburg at Klas Field on Saturday, October 22 at 1 p.m.
