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Football closes out season with 41-27 victory over Gustavus

Le Ann Finger
November 8, 2003

The St. Olaf football team concluded their 2003 season with a road victory, defeating Gustavus Adolphus by a score of 41-27 in St. Peter. The Ole win breaks a seven game winning streak held by Gustavus, in the St. Olaf-Gustavus series. The St. Olaf defensive line, led by senior co-captain Bill Germscheid (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) made many big plays that helped the Oles hold Gustavus, and ensure the win.

Gustavus opened the scoring on their first possession, capping a 41 yard drive with a 35 yard touchdown pass from Sean Smith to Nate Novak. The extra point was good and the Gusties held an early 7-0 lead. St. Olaf responded by marching the ball 87 yards on the ensuing possession. St. Olaf tight end Kyle Fritze (Jr. Apple Valley, Minn.) grabbed a 17 yard pass from quarterback Brian Senske (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) to put the Oles on the scoreboard. Nick Rost (FY, Faribault, Minn.) rushed for the two point conversion to put the Oles on top 8-7.

The Oles began the second quarter with a touchdown just three seconds into the quarter when Aaron Stinar (Sr., Blaine, Minn.) ran ten yards for the score. Dan O'Malley (FY, St. Anthony, Minn.) made the PAT to put the Oles ahead 15-7. With 9:26 left in the quarter, Senske connected with Cory Paterson (Sr., Hopkins, Minn.) for 59 yards and another Ole touchdown. O'Malley added another PAT to increase the Ole lead to 22-7. Gustavus answered with a touchdown late in the quarter, but their two point conversion failed, leaving a 22-13 halftime score.

The third quarter started off with Germscheid recovering a Gustavus fumble and running the ball 19 yards for his second touchdown this year. The Oles two point conversion failed. Gustavus scored seven points on their next possession, trailing the Oles 28-20.

The Oles began the fourth quarter by capping an 11 play drive, 84 yard series with a touchdown, to go ahead by 15 points. Gustavus scored on the next possession, to pull within eight points. With less than three minutes remaining in the game as Gustavus was threatening to score, Germscheid intercepted a Sean Smith pass, and ran 42 yards for his second defensive touchdown of the day, giving the Oles a final score of 41-27.

St. Olaf finished the game with 165 yards rushing and 193 yards passing for 358 total yards in offense compared to Gustavus' 40 yards rushing and 263 yards passing for 303 total yards in offense. Stinar led the Oles in rushing with 20 carries for 103 yards and one touchdown. On receiving, Fritze had five receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown. Stinar had two receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown. Paterson, who missed most of the season with an injury, returned for his final game and grabbed one pass for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Senske closed out an outstanding career at quarterback, completing 13 of 17 attempts for 193 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

Defensively, the Oles had another solid game, led by Germscheid's two interceptions for 60 yards, one fumble recovered for a touchdown and four tackles. Matt Bucka (Jr., New Hope, Minn.) led the defense with seven tackles, with five solo tackles.

St. Olaf closes out their 2003 season at 3-5 in the MIAC and 4-6 overall.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3834 or finger@stolaf.edu.