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Gusties End Ole Football Winning Streak

Jason Welle
November 6, 2000

Gustavus Adolphus College defeated St. Olaf College 45-28 in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Saturday night, ending St. Olaf?s three game winning streak. The Gusties? 515 yards of offense were too much for the Oles, whose offense played well at points, but couldn?t answer Gustavus? high charged attack.

Gustavus opened the scoring with 3:03 left in the first quarter when Christian White kicked a 20-yard field goal. The Oles responded with a 74 yard drive, culminating when Brian Senske (FY, Apple Valley, Minn.) found Steve Ryan (Jr., So. St. Paul, Minn.) for a 41 yard touchdown. The Oles held that 7-3 lead until Brady Brau took a 28 yard pass from Joe Thorvig into the end zone at 7:59 in the second quarter, giving the Gusties a lead they would never relinquish. St. Olaf drove down to the three-yard line on its next drive before Gustavus stopped St. Olaf?s field goal fake inches short of a first down. Thorvig responded with the longest completion in Gustavus school history, a 97 yard touchdown strike to Ryan Hoag. St. Olaf scored once more before intermission when Marc Davies (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) hauled in a three-yard pass from Brian Senske, with only three seconds left in the second quarter, bringing the score to 17-14 at the half.

After the break, it was all Gustavus. Thorvig fired a 46-yard touchdown pass to Chris Greavu on the Gusties? first play from scrimmage and the Gusties never looked back. Senske again found Ryan for a 17-yard score to keep the game close at 24-21 with 7:17 left in the third, but Thorvig answered with a 25 yard pass to Mike Gahlon to bring the Gustie lead back to ten. Andy Traetow rushed three yards for another Gustie touchdown with 14:52 to go in the game, but St. Olaf replied when Senske carried the ball three yards for the Oles? final score with 10:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Thorvig?s fifth touchdown pass went to Brett Boese with 6:06 to play, yielding the final score of 45-28.

The Oles? Manuel Spreigl (Jr., So. St. Paul, Minn.) led all rushers in the game, carrying the ball 21 times for 103 yards. Spreigl also went over 1000 yards on the season, bringing his total to 1031 yards. Traetow also cleared the century mark, gaining 101 yards on 21 carries. Thorvig completed 13 of 16 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Senske was 18 for 30 with three touchdowns. Ryan led all recievers with 9 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

The loss moves St. Olaf to 6-3 overall, 5-3 in the MIAC. Gustavus improves to 5-3 in league play, 5-4 overall. The Oles end their season next Saturday when they cross the Cannon river to play cross-town rival Carleton at 1:00 for the coveted Goat trophy. Gustavus plays at Macalester next week to end its season.

Contact Pat Buresh at 507-786-3315 or buresh@stolaf.edu.