The St. Lawrence University football team has not surrendered a point in more than 200 minutes of play after posting a third consecutive shutout victory Saturday afternoon with a 38-0 victory over Endicott College at Hempstead Stadium in Beverley, Mass.
The Saints (3-0) have not been scored on since the middle of the third quarter against Mount Union in last year's NCAA Tournament game in Ohio. The official total is 204 minutes and 11 seconds . . . and counting. St. Lawrence entered the weekend as one of just three teams in Division III that have yet to surrender a point on one of just six in all three divisions to remain unscored upon.
"Three straight shutout wins is unbelievable," said head coach Dan Puckhaber. "One shutout is hard enough because there is so many ways a team can score. For us to start the year with three straight shutouts truly shows the amount of time coach (Scott) Vallone and coach (Zach) Brown put in this summer getting on the same page and installing the defense that they envision. These shutouts are happening because of special players on the field, a great scout team that is giving us a great look, and four defensive coaches that are doing an amazing job of teaching the game plan each week. To have a first time coordinator start the way Scott (Vallone) has performed with the defense shows why he was my No. 1 recruit when I got the head coaching appointment."
On Saturday at Endicott (0-3), the Saints missed a field goal on their first drive but responded with a long drive to end the quarter capped by a Sean Richardson five-yard run to put St. Lawrence up 7-0.
At the start of the second quarter, the shutout streak nearly came to an end as the Gulls lined up for a 37-yard field goal but the kick sailed wide left.
After a short St. Lawrence drive, Endicott blocked a punt attempt with the ball going out of bounds at the Saint 17-yard line giving Endicott great field position and a chance to tie the score.
After gaining just one yard on the first two plays of the drive, quarterback Michael Scherer dropped back to pass but Saints linebacker Jayson Leigh picked off the pass at the 10-yard line and raced to the other end of the field for a 90-yard touchdown play to end the scoring threat and put St. Lawrence up 14-0.
Later in the quarter, Endicott was forced to punt near midfield and pinned the Saints at the one yard line with a perfectly placed punt.
A false start penalty moved the ball even closer to the end zone before Richardson engineered an impressive 99 ½ yard drive capped by a Vincenzo Ferraro 6-yard touchdown reception as the Saints went 99 yards on nine plays to take a 21-0 lead.
Daly Hebert connected on a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter for the only score of the period.
James Holley-Grisham who normally plays safety on defense and returns punts for the Saints was inserted as a wide receiver and caught a 10-yard scoring pass to start the fourth quarter pushing the lead to 31-0. Paul Wonka capped the scoring late in the final quarter with a four yard run into the end zone giving the Saints their third straight shutout win.
Rodrick Payne had over 100 yards rushing with 114 yards on 21 carries. It is the first 100-yard rushing day since Maurice Irby gained 106 yards in the 2015 win over Rensselaer. Richardson finished the day 24-for-32 for 213 yards and two touchdowns while Ferraro had 85 receiving yards on eight catches for the Saints.
Alec Dietsch and Skyler Williamson each had eight tackles with Dietsch adding a sack and a pass breakup while Williamson contributed a fumble recovery and quarterback hurry. Chyron Brown-Wallace also had eight tackles and a sack. Scott Arens had a pair of sacks, two pass breakups and forced a fumble.
The Saints open Liberty League play next weekend with a 12 p.m. game Saturday at Rensselaer.