Notables
-It was the second straight year of a winner-take-all game between the Saints and Panthers
-St. Scholastica second-ever undefeated regular season (2011)
-This marks the fourth straight UMAC Championship for CSS, including its third outright.
-Harper with a career-high 363 yards passing
-CSS finished with a season-high 551 yards of total offense
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – Junior wide receiver Andrew Smith caught a program record 12 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns as the St. Scholastica football team defeated Greenville College (Ill.) 42-14 Saturday to clinch the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship.
Greenville came in with a record of 7-2 and 7-1 in conference play. The Saints were in search of its second-ever undefeated regular season and fourth straight UMAC Championship. The winner of this game was going to decide the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Greenville won the opening toss and elected to receive. The Saints would hold the Panthers to a three-and-out on their first possession. On St. Scholastica's first play from scrimmage, quarterback Tyler Harper found some space to the right side and picked up a gain of 35 yards.
Later in the drive, the Saints were forced into a fourth-and-two at the Greenville 29, but a Panther offside penalty gave CSS a first down. On the next play, Harper found Nick Murphy in the back of the end zone for a 24-yard reception to make it 7-0 Saints.
Greenville responded on the next possession, going 72 yards on 15 plays. The CSS defense almost held Greenville to a three-and-out again on the possession, but the Panthers would fake a punt on their own 36-yard-line and pick up a first down. The drive ended when Nathan Callaway scored on a one-yard touchdown plunge to tie the game.
The Saints got in field goal range on its second possession, but a Mike Theismann's 47-yard field goal went wide left to keep the score tied at the end of the second quarter.
After a Greenville punt, the Saints got three pass plays of at least 19 yards and regained the lead on a Preston Robinson 3-yard option touchdown to make it 14-7. The Saints then surprised the Panthers with onside kick that was recovered by the kicker Theismann. Three plays later, Harper found Smith for a 37-yard touchdown to extend the margin to 21-7.
St. Scholastica added another score late in the half as Harper found Smith for a 24-yard catch and then a 37-yard touchdown on a two-play drive to make it 28-7 at the half.
On the opening possession of the second half, Harper and Smith connected three more times, including a 23-yard fade pattern to the corner as the Saints led 35-7.
After a St. Scholastica turnover, the Panthers got their second touchdown of the day on a Cory Moore 18-yard touchdown run. Greenville then held the Saints to a quick punt and the Panthers were driving again, but would be stopped on fourth-and-one at the St. Scholastica 17-yard-line.
The Saints held the Panthers on downs four more times in the fourth quarter and added a Harper 13-yard touchdown run to make the final score 42-14.
Harper finished 21-of-30 through the air for a career-high 363 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 59 yards and a score. Preston Robinson had 107 yards on 18 carries on the ground. Mitch O'Neil had four grabs for 24 yards and Tyler Meany had three receptions for 48 yards.
The Saints defense held the Panthers to 206 yards rushing. Greenville came in averaging 344.8 rushing yards per game, which was fourth-best in NCAA Division III. Jared Moran and Brady Fish each had 10 tackles to lead the unit.
With one week still remaining in the regular season, the Saints will have a bye next weekend and will find who and where they will play in the first round on NCAA Division III playoffs on Sunday, November 16th at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com.