ST. PAUL, Minn. — Junior RB Ben Wartman scored three second-half touchdowns and posted his ninth 100-yard rushing outing in his last 10 games to lead No. 18-ranked St. Thomas (2-0 overall, 1-0 MIAC) to a 27-16 comeback win over St. Olaf (2-1, 0-1) in MIAC football play Saturday at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.

The host Tommies completed touchdown drives of 73, 80, 80 and 67 yards on the day to end a four-game losing streak to the Oles. The Toms are now 2-0 for the first time since 1997. 

Wartman rushed 24 times for 176 yards and caught two passes for 34 yards. UST's Fritz Waldvogel had 11 catches for 127 yards.

St. Olaf, which had no turnovers, had a five-game winning streak halted dating back to October 2008.

UST survived two turnovers and outgained the Oles in total offense 354-284 yards. 

The game featured four lead changes. There also were three trick plays that reached the end zone, although one by the Tommies was negated by a penalty. Both teams took advantage of a costly penalty to set up a touchdown.

UST took a 7-0 lead on a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive on its second possession. Senior Joe Herrera caught a seven-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Greg Morse.

The Toms had appeared to force a Ole punting situation but a 15-yard facemask penalty on a tackle behind the line kept the drive alive. St. Olaf QB John Haberman later scored on a one-yard run to cap a nine-play, 59-yard drive. The PAT kick was blocked by UST's Cyrus Allen.

St. Olaf still trailed 7-6 late in the first half and faced a 42-yard field-goal try. But holder Carson Jones took the snap and scooted around the left end untouched into the end zone. With the kick the Oles took a 13-7 halftime lead.

The Oles were whistled for pass interference near the goal line on a 3rd-and-8 play in the third quarter. Two plays later, Wartman's nine-yard run capped an 80-yard scoring march. Brady Beeson's second PAT kick of the day put the Toms back in front 14-13. 

The Oles answered as Josiah Powell nailed a 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter for a 16-14 lead.

UST faced a 1st-and-25 on the go-ahead drive but eventually converted a first down. Wartman's 27-yard scoring reception off a razzle-dazzle play erased the last St. Olaf lead and put UST ahead 20-16. That capped a 14-play 80-yard drive.

Six plays later after a Ole four-and-out, Wartman dashed 59 yards to an insurance touchdown. St. Olaf drove inside the Tommie 25-yard line but came up one yard short of converting on fourth down with less than 90 seconds to go.

The Tommies slowed the Oles' dangerous rusher-return man Leon Clark. He had 66 yards of all-purpose yards before leaving with an injury in the third quarter. Kevin Foss rushed for 70 yards on 12 carries, and Haberman completed 19-of-32 passes for 157 yards and no interceptions.

Defensively, the Oles' Adam Concannon had a forced fumble and 11 tackles, and Patrick Luevano intercepted a tipped pass and recovered a Tommie fumble. 

The Tommie defense allowed just one touchdown and has given up just three TDs in its last 15 quarters dating back to last November. UST's defense was led by Willy Baregi's three tackles for loss (two sacks) and eight total tackles, and eight tackles each by Jeffrey Hilliard and Wyatt Delgado.

The Tommies play next Saturday at Hamline, while St. Olaf is home to play Augsburg.

Click here for game statistics:

http://www.tommiesports.com/ftbl/stats/9-19-fb.htm

Press release submitted by St. Thomas on Sep 19, 2009 at 06:13 PM Eastern