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Football Team Remains Undefeated with a 33-12 Victory over Hamline

Mark Heinert
September 24, 2001

The St. Olaf football team continued their winning ways this past weekend in Northfield, defeating the Hamline University Pipers by a score of 33-12. Hamline opened the scoring by taking the opening kickoff and capping a 60 yard drive with a 34 yard touchdown pass from Andy Kunzmann to Joe Kvamme. The extra point was missed and the Pipers held an early 6-0 lead. St. Olaf responded by marching the ball 65 yards on the ensuing possession and tying the game with a 23 yard touchdown run by Manuel Spreigl (Sr, South St. Paul, Minn.). Once again, the conversion was missed and the game was tied at 6-6. The game was then suspended with 8:53 remaining in the second quarter due to lightening and was postponed until Sunday afternoon.

The game resumed Sunday with a defensive struggle early on. Chad Thomas (Jr, Menomonie, Wis.) made a huge hit on a Hamline receiver and forced a fumble that was recovered by Cory Dingels (Sr, Gibbon, Minn.) with 2:39 remaining in the first half. On the next play from scrimmage, Brian Senske (So, Apple Valley, Minn.) found Steve Ryan (Sr, South St. Paul, Minn.) for a 62 yard touchdown reception. Once again, the extra point was missed and the Oles led 12-6 at halftime. The Oles continued to pour on the offensive pressure on the opening drive of the second half going 68 yards and finishing with Senske?s second touchdown pass of the day, a 13 yard scoring strike to Brian Sprout (Sr, Lake City, Minn.), to extend the lead to 19-6. Hamline countered back on their next possession with 58 yard touchdown pass from Kunzmann to Doug Amsden. Again, the conversion failed and the score was now 19-12 in favor of the Oles. Ryan caught his second touchdown pass of the game on the ensuing drive, a 17 yard strike from Senske, to extend the lead to 26-12. Spreigl added his second touchdown, a seven-yard touchdown run, with 12:47 remaining in the ball game to give the Oles a 33-12 lead for good.

St. Olaf finished the game with 153 yards rushing and 253 yards passing for 406 total yards in offense compared to Hamline?s 81 yards rushing and 153 yards passing for 234 total yards in offense. Spreigl led the Oles in rushing with 21 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns. In the receiving department, Ryan had another outstanding game with 8 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Senske was outstanding at quarterback as well completing 17 of 27 attempts for 253 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Defensively, the Oles had another solid game creating 2 turnovers and holding Hamline to only 10 first downs and 12 points for the entire game.

St. Olaf now moves to 3-0 overall (2-0 MIAC) on the season and travels to Augsburg College for 1:00 PM game on Saturday, September 29. The Oles then return home on October 6 to take on the Bethel Royals at 1:00 PM for their annual homecoming contest.

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