Tommies Blog: St. Thomas Opens With UW-Eau Claire Saturday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – After about a month of fall camp and a final scrimmage to finalize some preseason items, coach Glenn Caruso and the St. Thomas football team play an opponent for real this weekend.
The Tommies, coming off an 8-2 season in 2013 and their first time not in the NCAA Playoffs since Caruso's first year at St. Thomas, host UW-Eau Claire Saturday to open the regular season. The players and coaching staff have been itching to get back after falling short of expectations last year, after appearing in the 2012 national championship game.
St. Thomas has big things in mind this season, returning 16 of a possible 24 starting positions. That's headlined by senior quarterback Matt O'Connell, who is back after a major leg injury last season in a win at Gustavus. O'Connell has played in 27 career games and is 15-2 as a starter. He's thrown for more than 3,800 yards, run for more than 1,200 yards and has a combined 38 career touchdowns. He missed the last six games of 2013 with a broken leg.
Among his favorite targets this year will be senior receiver Dan Ferrazzo, who has 103 career receptions for nearly 1,300 yards. The Tommies will also have depth at running back this year with two of their top rushers back in Jack Kaiser, who led St. Thomas last year, and Brenton Braddock, who ran for more than 1,000 yards two seasons ago. Another offensive weapon will be Nick Waldvogel, who scored nine touchdowns as a freshman last year. St. Thomas was 7-0 in games where he saw the end zone.
On paper, the match-up against UW-Eau Claire is one that heavily favors St. Thomas if they show up ready to play. The Blugolds are coming off a 2-8 season that included a 2-5 WIAC record. They started the season 0-6, but four of their eight losses came by eight or fewer points. That included a 17-14 loss to St. John's.
UW-Eau Claire has seven starters returning to its defense, but the Blugolds graduated three of their top four tacklers. Their top returning player is linebacker Cody Taubman, who had 69 tackles last season. St. Thomas has an opportunity to put up big numbers Saturday as the Blugolds averaged allowing about 400 yards of total offense and 30 points per game. They did, however, collect three interceptions and get 10 fumble recoveries. On offense last year, St. Thomas averaged more than 440 yards in total offense and scored 34 points per game.
On offense, UW-Eau Claire has to replace its top running back. Clint Larson returns as the team's top rusher as he had 204 yards and four touchdowns last season. Mark Munger is back at quarterback after playing eight games last year and averaging about 140 yards passing per game with three touchdowns. UW-Eau Claire averaged about 296 yards of total offense.
Munger's top target will likely be sophomore receiver Drew Davis, who caught 17 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns last season.
The St. Thomas defense was one of the better units in the entire country last season. The Tommies allowed just more than 14 points per game and about 78 yards rushing.
St. Thomas leads the all-time series 2-0. Caruso is entering his seventh season as head coach with a record of 65-10. That mark includes a 42-6 record in the MIAC over six seasons and a 38-3 record at home. The Tommies enter the season ranked No. 11 in the D3football.com preseason poll. Only Bethel is ranked higher at No. 7. In the MIAC preseason coach's poll, Bethel came in as the favorite to win the MIAC with St. Thomas finishing second.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Saturday at Palmer Field inside O'Shaughnessy Stadium. WCCO Radio 830 AM will broadcast the game live with Dave Lee on the play-by-play and Eric Nelson providing color commentary.
