SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University football team's 2023 season opener pitted them against Crown College at Klas Field on Saturday morning. The Pipers have squared off against the Polars in their season opener for three-straight years, and own just as many victories over them in that span with a 45-13 win.
Four interceptions were recorded by the Hamline defense, the most in a single-game since October 20, 2012, when they notched five in a 51-9 loss to St. Thomas (Minn.) at Klas Field.
Hamline begins their campaign with a 1-0 record, while Crown moves to 0-1.
Hamline 45, Crown 13
Senior wide receiver Charlie Wilson, and freshman running back Gilbert Guerra III accounted for 269 yards for the Hamline offense. The dynamic duo combined for 31 yards on the opening drive, capped by Wilson's 13-yard touchdown grab from junior quarterback Alejandro Villanueva that gave the Pipers a 7-0 lead with 11:46 left in the first quarter.
Hamline capitalized on their second series, where Charlie Wilson's 22, and seven-yard receptions set up Malik Wynn's eight-yard touchdown run that widened the margin to 14-0 with 8:56 remaining in the first quarter.
In the meantime, Hamline's defense limited Crown to just 13 offensive snaps that resulted in four-straight punts. It helped keep the score at 14-0 with 7:39 left in the second quarter, when the Pipers threatened to extend their lead before they turned the ball over via a fumble in the Polars' end zone for a touchback. Crown would rattle 13 plays and 80 yards on the ensuing drive, which ended with Christoff Seneca's 29-yard touchdown catch from Diego Narezo that narrowed their deficit to 14-6 with 3:42 left in the second quarter.
This ignited a Hamline aerial attack that registered back-to-back deep touchdown passes to conclude the half. Senior quarterback Alec Ralph's 53-yard touchdown pass to Eric Pfenning-Wendt with 1:46 left in the second quarter stretched the score to 21-6, before Villanueva connected with Wilson for a 48-yard touchdown pass as time expired to make things 28-6 at halftime.
It took two more third-quarter touchdowns before Crown responded as Guerra III's 10-yard run at the 13:16 mark, and Zach Griebel's 37-yard interception return with 4:37 on the clock pushed the margin to 42-6.
The game's biggest play belonged to the Polars, as Jonathan Wamsley's 62-yard touchdown run with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter narrowed the Pipers' lead to 42-13.
Sophomore kicker Durham Welch closed the game's scoring with his first collegiate field goal for Hamline from 20 yards out with 11:22 left in the fourth quarter, which made the score 45-13.
Guerra III registered 117 yards rushing and one touchdown on 22 carries for the Pipers in his collegiate debut, while Malik Wynn added 58 yards on 13 carries. Wilson recorded eight catches for 152 yards and two scores. Pfenning-Wendt contributed five catches for 91 yards and one touchdown after serving as a defensive back last season. Junior quarterback Villanueva went 20-for-32 for 270 yards and two touchdown tosses for Hamline.
Griebel, Erik Aune, Noah Breaux, and Jevon Jones each recorded an interception for the Pipers defense. Jones led the way with nine tackles that included one for a loss of two yards. Caleb Lueders, Erik Aune, and Juan Bertaud each had two pass break ups.
Crown got big individual performances from Jonathan Wamsley and Rudy Criner. Wamsley notched 141 yards on 12 carries. Criner tallied a game-high 14 tackles, one sack, one interception, a forced fumble, and a pass break up.
The Pipers will travel to Minnesota Morris on Saturday, September 9 for a 6 p.m. game.
