SAINT PETER, Minn. - Gustavus football secured a spot in the MIAC championship game after a decisive 38-20 victory over Carleton on Saturday. The Gusties, winners of their last five games, complete the sweep in the Northwoods Division while improving to 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC. Gustavus is now set for a rematch with Bethel next Saturday in Arden Hills for the conference title and automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
"The guys have fought tremendously hard and thinking about what we went through earlier in the year with painful losses, so I'm really proud of them to hang in there and keep fighting," said Head Coach
Peter Haugen. "It was a fun day for the families to celebrate 33 seniors."
The combination of quarterback
George Sandven to star receiver
Jake Breitbach was the story of the day as they connected on 12 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. Breitbach has now gone over 200 yards four times this year and today set the single season program record for receptions (104) and receiving yards (1,518). The previous records were held by Chad Arlt with 100 receptions in 2007 and Matthew Boyce with 1,318 yards in 2015.
Carleton ended its first two drives with field goals and held an early 6-0 lead before Sandven connected with Breitbach from 15 yards out, giving the Gusties a 7-6 lead on the first play of the second quarter. The Knights answered with touchdown pass of their own to regain a 13-7 lead, but once again, Sandven found Breitbach from 24 yards out for a 14-13 Gustie lead with 8:11 to go in the first half.
Andrew Abegglen gave the Gusties a 17-13 advantage with a 26-yard field goal and
Caden Kleinschmidt gave the home team a two-possession lead with a 20-yard touchdown reception with 36 seconds on the clock.
Early in the third quarter, Sandven found Kleinschmidt again, this time for an 82-yard stike, giving the Gusties a 31-13 lead. Nearly seven minutes later, Sandven found Breitbach for their third touchdown connection of the game from 28 yards out. Carleton scored its final touchdown with under four minutes to play in the game on a one-yard rush.
Sandven finished the game completing 21-of-33 passes for 403 yards - a career-high - five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Kleinschmidt was the second leading receiver with four catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. In the ground game,
River Wood posted career highs with 21 carries for 143 yards. The Gusties outgained the Knights 541-359 in total yards and were 7-of-11 on third down.
Defensively,
Carson DeKam led the way with 11 tackles, including two for a loss of nine yards, and two quarterback hurries.
Jack Klug was next with nine tackles.
Darius Howard and
Isaiah Chambers each had an interception.
Next Saturday at Bethel, the Gusties have a chance to win their first MIAC championship since 1987 and to do so will need to snap a 14-game losing streak against the Royals, dating back to 2009.
