Fans fall forward along the barrier after hugging graduate running back Gabe Abel for scoring the first touchdown of the second quarter with a 57-yard run. The Tommies won their homecoming game against the San Diego Toreros 50-17 Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. (Sydney Baxter/The Crest) 
Tommie junior defensive back Kyle Winchester scores a 38-yard touchdown off of an interception and celebrates with graduate defensive back Rod Finley in the rain. (Sydney Baxter/The Crest) 
Torero sophomore offensive guard Falesalafai Gatoloai blocks Tommie graduate defensive lineman Evan Tyler in the second quarter. (Sydney Baxter/The Crest) 
Despite rain, Tommie fans crowd O’Shaughnessy Stadium for homecoming. (Sydney Baxter/The Crest)
The University of St. Thomas football team walked away from their first conference game of the season with a decisive 50-17 victory against the San Diego Toreros on a dreary Saturday afternoon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback and back-to-back Pioneer Football League player of the week Nick Peipert led the Tommie (4-1, 1-0 PFL) offense through the pouring rain, throwing for 239 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 51 yards and two touchdowns over the Toreros (1-3, 0-1) in St. Thomas’ homecoming game.
Coach Glenn Caruso said Peipert’s performance brought a smile to his face and complimented his ability to sense pressure on pass plays.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a quarterback that can see as wide as his aperture allows us to; it’s really impressive, and he’s just so cool,” Caruso said.
The Tommies took a commanding lead in a first half that featured three touchdowns spread between Peipert, graduate running back Gabe Abel and sophomore receiver Pierce McCrary. The scoring continued with a 75-yard touchdown grab from sophomore receiver Stefano Giovannelli and a pick-six from junior cornerback Kyle Winchester.
The Tommie offensive line shined throughout the game, clearing the way for 304 rushing yards while not allowing a sack all game.
“The pockets were great today, props to them, great game from them,” Peipert said.
St. Thomas’ defense shut down the Toreros’ offense, allowing only 75 rushing yards, racking up three sacks and forcing an interception. Winchester attributed his defensive success to the Tommies’ scout players, who practiced against the defense throughout the week.
“Our scouts do a great job of mimicking their formations and giving us a good scheme,” Winchester said. “They gave us a great competition this week, which really prepped me up for this game.”
Caruso said he thought the team could still improve its passing defense and would benefit from watching this week’s film to see what players need to work on before their next conference game against Presbyterian College.
“This group is ready. Whatever we put in front of them, they are ready, and they will fight to the end. Not for me, but for each other,” Caruso said.
The Tommies will face off against Presbyterian at noon Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clinton, S.C.
Jackson Geibig can be reached at geib3470@stthomas.edu.
Sydney Baxter can be reached at baxt9124@stthomas.edu.
