Two passing touchdowns from quarterback John Gould, including a 67-yard score, helped stake the St. Thomas football team to a 21-0 halftime lead over La Verne (California) in the first round of the NCAA playoffs Saturday afternoon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

On the third play of the Leopards’ (8-1 overall, 7-0 conference) first drive, quarterback William Livingston needed help off the field after the Tommie (10-0 overall, 8-0 conference) defense’s heavy pressure brought him down. Backup Zachary Tomlinson replaced Livingston on the next drive and remained under center until third-string quarterback Josh Evans replaced him late in the half.

For the second time this season, No.4-ranked St. Thomas was shut out in the first quarter. The Tommies were as close as La Verne’s 6-yard line, but the defense stuffed Roberts on a sweep to the right side on fourth-and-one. The Tommies were unsuccessful on two fourth-down attempts in the opening quarter.

St. Thomas finally broke its goose egg when Roberts rumbled into the end zone from two yards out with 9:58 left in the second quarter. Roberts capped the drive with a successful two-point conversion.

Following a recovered fumble by the defense on La Verne’s 36-yard line, it took seven seconds for St. Thomas to double its lead. Gould connected with Roberts down the middle of the field for a 36-yard touchdown, Roberts’ second receiving score on the year. The extra point from kicker Paul Graupner hit the right upright and fell no good.

The Tommies kept the streak of one-play drives going with a 67-yard pass from Gould to tight end Charlie Dowdle on a play similar to Roberts’ receiving touchdown. The successful extra point from Graupner gave St. Thomas a 21-0 lead with 2:41 left in the second quarter.

Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.