NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Hamline fell short in a 41-34 defeat against St. Olaf College. The Pipers' passing attack was notable with four touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to overcome St. Olaf's offensive efforts.
The game commenced with Hamline deferring the opening kickoff, allowing St. Olaf to receive the ball and begin a drive. St. Olaf's Landon Dillon dominated the early play, accumulating 41 rushing yards across six attempts, while Luke Crosby capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at the 8:37 mark. Ethan Hess successfully converted the extra point, giving St. Olaf a 7–0 lead. Hamline's
Will Priest responded with a series of rushes totaling 45 yards, but the drive stalled, leading to a punt. As the quarter concluded, St. Olaf remained ahead with their early touchdown effort.
In the second quarter, the Pipers'
Zayden Stevens connected with
Dawson Schaffer for a deep 23-yard touchdown pass at 13:26, followed by a successful extra point from
Kieran Barrientos, tying the game at 7–7. St. Olaf quickly responded with a 41-yard pass from Crosby to Gus Gartzke, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Dillon at 10:28, restoring their lead to 14–7 after Hess's extra point. Hamline narrowed the gap with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Stevens at 3:48, again tying the score at 14–14. However, St. Olaf reclaimed control with Crosby's short touchdown pass to Jackson Kauck at 00:21, concluding the half with a 28–14 advantage after Hess's third successful extra point.
The third quarter opened with St. Olaf capitalizing on a fumble by
Dukenson Henry Jr. of Hamline, which was recovered by Josh Kerber at the Pipers' 22-yard line. St. Olaf's drive culminated in a 31-yard field goal by Hess, extending their lead. Hamline responded with a 76-yard drive, highlighted by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Stevens to Schaffer, narrowing the gap. Later, the Pipers'
Isaiah Watson caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Stevens, but the ensuing extra point was blocked by Kerber, leaving the score at 34-27 in favor of St. Olaf.
St. Olaf extended their lead early in the fourth quarter with Gartzke rushing for a 9-yard touchdown at 12:41, followed by Hess's successful extra point, making it 41–27. Hamline responded with an 8-play, 75-yard drive culminating in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Stevens to
Samuel Pachuta at 8:26, narrowing the gap to 41–34 after Barrientos converted the PAT. St. Olaf maintained possession with efficient rushing, primarily driven by Dillon, who consistently gained yardage to keep the clock running and secure the win. Despite the Pipers' efforts, St. Olaf's control on the ground in the final minutes preserved their victory.
Schaffer recorded 83 receiving yards and two touchdowns on three receptions. Pachuta contributed with five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Croix Zacharias anchored the defense with 16 tackles and one fumble recovery. Stevens excelled through the air, completing 16 of 25 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns.
The Pipers will conclude their season on the road, with their final game against Augsburg on Friday, November 14, with a 7:30 PM kickoff in Minneapolis.
