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Oles beat Macalester 35-18

John Eickhoff
October 31, 2001

The St. Olaf football team continued its winning ways this weekend as it defeated Macalester 35-18 in St. Paul. The Oles (5-3, 4-3 MIAC) won for the second consecutive weekend, assuring them back-to-back seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better. This would be the first time in a decade that the Oles will have two consecutive winning seasons.

The Oles started the scoring with 10:03 left in the first quarter when Manuel Spreigl (Sr., So. St. Paul, Minn.) broke free and, with the aid of a punishing block on a defender from teammate Cordell Hunkins, (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.), ran the ball 39 yards to the endzone. Sean Koomen (So., Mankato, Minn.) booted the extra point, and the Oles led early 7-0. After a series of punts and missed fourth-down conversions, the Oles lit up the scoreboard again on Manuel Spreigl?s one-yard touchdown plunge. Koomen connected on the P.A.T. extending the Ole lead to 14-0. The score remained as it was for the remainder of the half.

On Ole?s first possession of the second half, St. Olaf?s Brian Sprout (Sr., Lake City, Minn.) cruised past the Macalester secondary and hauled in 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Senske (So., Apple Valley, Minn.). Koomen once again came through with the kick to put the Oles up 21-0 early in the second quarter. Following a Macalester punt, the Oles kept up their scoring antics as Spreigl got the handoff from 13-yards out and and took it in for six. Koomen, who would be a perfect 5-5 for extra points, connected again, putting the Oles up 28-0. Macalester finally got on the board after blocking a St. Olaf punt when quarterback Adam Heathcote hooked up with receiver Grant Heuett for a 20-yard touchdown strike. The two-point attempt failed, and the Ole lead was cut to 28-6. After several exchanges of possession, the Oles answered back when Spreigl scored his fourth touchdown of the game, muscling his way into the endzone from eight-yards out. Koomen converted his fifth point-after attempt, putting the Oles up 35-6. Macalester would score twice more in the game, but the Oles sealed the win, 35-18.

Workhorse Spreigl pace the Ole offense carrying 29 times for 168 yards and four touchdowns, while Sprout continued his domination of opposing team?s secondary catching eight passes for 121 yards and a score. Senske completed nine of 17 passes for 144 yards and a score, while Joe Hammond (Sr., Nielsville, Wis.) was stellar completing seven of 15 passes for 68 yards. Defensive Lineman James Struble (Sr., Sparta, Wis.) continued to wreak havoc in opponents? backfields, with 2 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks.

The Oles will host Carleton in the annual Goat Trophy game at 1:00 PM this Saturday, November 3. Carleton (0-8, 0-7 MIAC) is in search of their first victory of the season, and St. Olaf is determined to keep the Goat Trophy for the 6 sixth consecutive year. That, and the addition of the schools? intense rivalry, promises to make for an exciting and intense battle.

Contact Judy Stromayer at 507-786-3315 or stromaye@stolaf.edu.