O’Connell injured, football leads Gustavus at half

Teammates show their support for quarterback Matt O’Connell as he’s taken off the field on a stretcher midway through the second quarter with an apparent ankle fracture. O’Connell put the Tommies on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. (Andrew Stafford/TommieMedia)
Teammates show their support for quarterback Matt O’Connell as he’s taken off the field on a stretcher midway through the second quarter with an apparent ankle fracture. O’Connell put the Tommies on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. (Andrew Stafford/TommieMedia)

Paramedics took quarterback Matt O’Connell off the field on a stretcher after he suffered an apparent leg injury midway through the second quarter of the St. Thomas football team’s game against Gustavus Adolphus Saturday at Hollingsworth Field. The Tommies lead the Gusties 7-6 at the half.

No official confirmation about the type or extent of the injury has been confirmed, but referees speculated that it may have been a lower-leg injury. Quarterback John Gould replaced O’Connell and Alex Fenske also took snaps towards the end of the first half.

Before his injury, O’Connell rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 48 seconds left in the first quarter to put the Tommies on the board first 7-0.

Gustie quarterback Mitch Hendricks responded with his 2-yard rushing touchdown with 10:30 left in the second quarter, but Gustavus missed the extra point.

Defensive back Winter Cullen was ejected from the game with 3:36 left in the first half for targeting a defenseless Gustie wide receiver, a new NCAA rule that was instituted this year.

Kyle Jonas can be reached at jona7984@stthomas.edu.