Macalester vs. St. Thomas statistics

St. Thomas had a couple punt returns for touchdowns in the opening quarter to take command early, and went on to topple the Scots 54-14 at Macalester Stadium in the season-opener for both teams.

Macalester's T. Joe Loiselle (So., Chippewa Falls, Wis.) gained 103 yards and one touchdown rushing. Mac's other touchdown came when Jake McDonnell (Jr., Duluth, Minn. / Marshall) blocked a UST punt, picked it up, and ran it in for six points.

The Tommies controlled the opening half and led 34-0 at the break. Macalester, however, played much better in the third and fourth quarters, stopping the Tommies on downs on the first possession of the second half before McDonnell's blocked punt and 20-yard dash on the recovery for a TD.

Macalester drove 60 yards on 11 plays on its first offensive possession of the half as Loiselle capped off the march with a one-yard scoring plunge.

In addition to getting 103 yards on the ground from Loiselle, quarterback Trevor Miehe (Jr., Holmen, Wis.) ran for 38 yards while going 13-for-24 passing.

Aaron Gallegos (Fy., Lakeville, Minn. / North) and David Melms (Fy., Wauwatosa, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran) each knocked down a couple passes from the secondary to lead the Macalester defense. Gallegos led all Scots with six tackles, including four solo stops.

Fritz Waldvogel had first quarter punt returns of 74 and 68 yards for touchdowns to lead the way for St. Thomas. The Tommies, under former Mac coach Glenn Caruso, are ranked No. 8 in one pre-season Division III poll and No. 17 in another. They were picked second in the pre-season MIAC coaches' poll.

In addition to getting the two big returns from Waldvogel (as well as a 51-yard interception return for a score ),UST compiled 489 yards in offense. Ben Wartman carried the ball 16 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns. St. Thomas survived 14 yellow flags for 125 penalty yards.

The Scots play Crown next Saturday (Sept. 12) in St. Bonafacius.