EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – St. Thomas’ suffocating defense and three receiving touchdowns from tight end Charlie Dowdle propelled the Tommies to a 62-7 victory against Wisconsin-Eau Claire Saturday night at Carson Park.
2014 All-MIAC honoree Dowdle broke the scoring seal on the Tommies’ first possession of the 2015 campaign. When quarterback John Gould rolled right, Dowdle was wide open about 20 yards down field, and the pair connected. The score put St. Thomas ahead 7-0 with 9:42 left in the first quarter. Coach Glenn Caruso said Dowdle is unique, and reminds him of Tommie football legend Fritz Waldvogel.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of really good tight ends in the country, but I’d be hard pressed to say there’s one that’s better than him,” Caruso said. “He’s the leader on the offense, not necessarily because he says the most words, but his actions are impeccable and his work ethic is second to none.”
Dowdle’s second score was a 38-yard receiving touchdown at the 8:05 mark of the second quarter. A Blugold defender hit Gould as he threw, but the Tommie signal caller still managed to connect with Dowdle. This increased the lead to 28-0 in the second quarter, and Dowdle finished the contest with 209 yards along with his three scores. Dowdle thought the team’s mentality contributed to his output.
“This year we’re all pretty confident players and just when that ball’s in the air…that you’re going to come down with it. It’s your ball; that’s how we all play,” Dowdle said.
A pair of short rushing touchdowns from running backs Jordan Roberts and Jack Kaiser, as well as a successful two-point conversion by Dowdle also played a part in the Tommies’ lead.
Kicker Paul Graupner booted a 51-yard field goal with 3:17 left in the second quarter to give the Tommies a 31-0 lead. The Tommies topped off the first-half scoring frenzy with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Kaiser with 23 seconds left in the second quarter. The Tommies finished the game with with 122 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, a stat that made Caruso “really happy.”
St. Thomas’ defense denied Eau Claire’s offense a trip past midfield for the whole first quarter. Along with three sacks, the Tommies defense also caused and recovered a fumble. Defensive back Jordan Young mentioned the Tommies front seven was “very dominant.”
The Tommies offense continued its success on the first play of the second half with a 71-yard touchdown pass from Gould to Dowdle. Gould demolished the Blugolds’ defense with 335 yards and three touchdowns.
“I was pretty happy with how the pass game flew sequentially off of the run game,” Caruso said.
Even St. Thomas’ defense reached the end zone. Young intercepted Blugold quarterback J.T. DenHartog in the end zone and rumbled his way down the field for the 100-yard score. Young said he took advantage of the open field.
“Once I kinda saw green field ahead of me, I went for it and took off,” Young said. “I just wanted to get as much field position as I could and luckily things worked out.”
Caruso initially corrected his first judgment of the play.
“Honestly I was like ‘NO!’ and then all of sudden, I was like ‘YEAH!’” Caruso said. “I was happy he took it out. I thought he’d get out to the 25-(yard line), but he hurdled a guy and certainly did a good job.”
Eau Claire finally ended its scoring drought with a 9-yard touchdown pass from DenHartog to tight end Dan Brennan as time expired in the third quarter. This decreased the Tommies’ lead to 59-7. The Blugolds finished the game with 240 yards of total offense, and DenHartog accounted for just 88 yards passing.
Last season, St. Thomas snuck away with a 22-17 victory at O’Shaugnessy Stadium after a game-saving interception. Caruso said the biggest difference from last year’s matchup to this year’s was the defense stepping up in clutch moments.
“When we needed the defense to step up and get us a three-and-out or get us off the field to get a big play, we got it this year,” Caruso said.
Graupner’s 37-yard field goal with 9:39 left in the fourth quarter topped off St. Thomas’ scoring.
St. Thomas will return to St. Paul next weekend to take on Wisconsin-La Crosse Sept. 12 at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.