After a poor first-half performance on special teams by the St. Thomas football team, the Tommies managed multiple long runs and passes for scores to take a 21-21 tie against San Diego into halftime Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

The Tommies (6-1, 4-0 Pioneer League) look to extend their regular season home win streak to 36 games with a win over the Toreros (3-3, 2-1). Last season, the Tommies lost 27-24 on the road against the Toreros.

San Diego got on the board first on a short run by junior running back Isaiah Smith after the Toreros recovered a muffed punt return by St. Thomas sophomore receiver Andrew McElroy on the 3-yard line.

However, McElroy redeemed himself two plays later after senior quarterback Cade Sexauer hit him for a 75-yard TD pass and run to tie the game.

At the end of the first quarter, the Tommies punted deep out of their end zone to give the Toreros great field position to start once again. On the first play of the second quarter, graduate student quarterback Judd Erickson threw a 1-yard TD pass to pull the Toreros ahead once again.

However, some St. Thomas offensive trickery led to another touchdown on the ensuing drive. Senior quarterback Cade Sexauer threw a lateral to first-year receiver Bryce Boyd, who threw a wide-open 36-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Wesley Juszczak.

For the second time in the game, the St. Thomas special teams hurt themselves as the Toreros blocked a punt, which was finally recovered on the St. Thomas 5-yard line. With their second time opening a drive on first-and-goal in the game, Toreros sophomore receiver Ja’seem Reed caught a 5-yard pass to put the Toreros up 21-14.

Once again, the Tommies responded on their ensuing drive with a 70-yard run to the house by sophomore running back Shawn Shipman to tie the score again.

Despite allowing two touchdowns because of special-teams mistakes, the St. Thomas defense held the Toreros to just 110 yards in the half.