Macalester vs. St. Scholastica statistics

Macalester's defense dominated the first half of play and on the day the Scots intercepted six passes to beat St. Scholastica 35-13 in Duluth. Aaron Gallegos (Fy., Lakeville, Minn. / North) and Josh Boomgaarden (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) picked off a pair of passes each and Gallegos returned the opening kickoff deep into CSS territory to set the stage for Macalester's big day.

The Scots allowed just three first downs in the opening half and by that time were up by a safe 35-7 margin. Mac's six interceptions ties a school record set two years ago against Principia.

Macalester improves to 2-4 on the season and St. Scholastica is now 3-3.

Mac struck quickly and was up 14-0 by the time CSS had their second offensive snap. A Gallegos 58-yard opening kickoff return set up a six-yard Jake McDonnell (Jr., Duluth, Minn. / Marshall) scoring run. Boomgaarden then intercepted the first St. Scholastica offensive play and five players later McDonnell ran it in from 12 yards away.  McDonnell now has 32 touchdowns in 21 career games at Macalester.

St. Scholastica returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter, but the rest of the opening half was dominated by the Scots, who scored on a 23-yard Trevor Miehe (Jr., Holmen, Wis.) to Kevin Finnegan (Jr., Oak Park, Ill. / Oak Park-River Forest) pass, a Gallegos 45-yard interception return, and Miehe to Jon Elliott (Jr., El Paso, Tex. / Andress) 27-yard pass with just :01 to go.

The team's final scoring drive went 49 yards on seven plays in just 1:04 as Macalester used good clock management to extend the lead to 35-7.

The only score of the second half was a short scoring run by the Saints with five minutes to go.

Macalester out-gained CSS 16-9 in first downs and 285-191 in total yards. The team held CSS to a 2-for-13 third down conversion rate and 0-for-3 fourth down mark.

Miehe, who also ran for 62 yards was an efficient 15-for-20 passing, completing five passes for 55 yards to Elliott and four for 43 to Finnegan. McDonnell ran for 71 yards on 24 carries.

In addition to picking off a couple passes, Boomgaarden was the team's top tackler with 10. Nate Sands (So., Madison, Wis. / East) was in on six tackles. Brandon Murphy (Fy., Sunberg, Minn. / New London-Spicer) and Adam Bunkoske (Fy., Beaver Dam, Wis. / Wayland Academy) ach picked off one pass.

The Scots have played four of the past five games on the road, but will not have to leave the Twin Cities again this season. Next Saturday (Oct. 17), Macalester will host the University of Chicago at 1 p.m.