Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
Football coaches talk often about getting off to a good start. Hamline's Chad Rogosheske saw his team get off to a great start and never look back, rolling past UM-Morris, 37-6 at Big Cat Stadium Saturday in the season opener for both teams. It was the widest margin for the Pipers since a 34-0 decision over Martin Luther in the 2009 season opener.
Thanks to a solid mix of passing from Tim Bona and a solid rushing effort by Austin Duncan, HU scored on four of five first half possessions in the first 30 minutes of play. Bona completed his first 12 passes in a row, ending with 19 completions in 30 attempts for 158 yards and three scores. Duncan, who led the league in rushing a year ago at 146 yards per game, rambled for 150 yards and a score.
The Pipers kept their hand on the throttle in the second half as well, ending the night with a 469-168 edge over the Cougars in total offense.
After forcing the Cougars on the game's opening drive, Hamline marched 78 yards in 12 plays with Duncan dahsing in from 20 yards out to open the scoring. Before the half ended, Bona would connect with Ryan Ferkinhoff, Phillip Sherman and Derrick Fleming on scoring tosses. Two of those drives were morre than 80 yards in length.
In the second half, Forrest Coughlin added a field goal and Brendan Nachtrieb scored on the game's final play to wrap up the Piper scoring brigade.
Meanwhile, the Piper defense was thwarting the Cougars at nearly every turn. Not counting a 33-second drive at the end of the second period, Hamline forced a pair of fumbles and three punts for the five drives UM-Morris started in the first half. HU finished the night with seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Anthony Hill recorded seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss. TaSawn Burton added six tackles and has 1.5 for loss.
The Pipers will go for two in a row in their home opener, September 13 against Macalester. The battle for the Paint Bucket kicks off at 7:00 p.m.