DULUTH, Minn. - After suffering heartbreaking losses in the final minute of the last two games, the Gustavus football team got off the schneid Saturday with a decisive 63-12 win over St. Scholastica. The Gustie offense scored on nine of 11 drives while the defense held the Saints to 280 total yards.
Jake Breitbach, who leads all NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game, continued to showcase his talents against the Saints with 11 catches for 133 yards and three touchdowns. Breitbach, who now has 63 catches for 858 yards and eight touchdowns this season, has more receptions and yards through five games than any player in 107 seasons of Gustavus football.
The Gusties scored on their first two possessions and never looked back.
Rohee Konde scored the first touchdown on a 51-yard scamper while
River Wood rushed one in from eight yards out.
On the third Gustie possession, a snap went over the punter's head and out the endzone for a safety. The Saints then went down the field and got three more points on the board with a 28-yard field goal, making the score 14-5 early in the second quarter.
Gustavus responded with touchdowns from Wood (his second), Breitbach, and
Walker Britz and the next three possessions for a comfortable 35-12 lead at halftime.
The Gustie defense was stout in the second half, not allowing a point while recording two interceptions.
Ty Glaser picked off a pass midway through the third quarter and returned it 33 yards to the Saints two-yard line, setting up another touchdown pass from
George Sandven to Breitbach, while
Bode Hogan tallied a 14-yard interception in the fourth quarter.
Two of Breitbach's touchdowns came in the third quarter, while Ivan Scarpino Korb tacked on two rushing scores in the fourth.
Konde led the ground game with nine carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. Wood finished with 10 carries for 53 yards and two scores.
Sandven completed 25-of-34 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
Colton Loeschke and
Carson DeKam paced the defense with 10 stops apiece, each with one tackle for loss.
Myshawn King,
Javier Gratacos, and
Max Olson each had a sack.
Gustavus hosts Macalester next Saturday for Hall of Fame Day.
