Oles' air game leaves Gusties at a loss in conference blowout

Six touchdown passes were part of the product of a dominating offensive performance that helped St. Olaf stay undefeated.

By Rachel Blount, Star Tribune

Last update: September 30, 2007 - 12:32 AM

NORTHFIELD, MINN. - Matt Penz couldn't see the spectacular one-handed catch by Horace Gant in the end zone, but then, he didn't need to. The St. Olaf quarterback could tell Gant had it by the shouting of Saturday's homecoming crowd -- and by his gut instinct.

Gant and teammate Andrew Schmiesing caught just about everything Penz threw their way in the Oles' 59-19 thrashing of Gustavus Adolphus at Manitou Field. The two seniors combined for six touchdown catches and 255 receiving yards in a MIAC matchup of undefeated teams.

The country's third highest-scoring offense got on a roll late in the first quarter and sustained it through the rest of the game, pushing 19th-ranked St. Olaf to 5-0 (3-0 MIAC) and handing Gustavus its first loss in eight games.

Penz completed 28 of 35 passes for 362 yards and six touchdowns as St. Olaf earned its fifth consecutive victory over the Gusties. The Oles amassed 602 yards of offense, more than twice the Gusties' 296.

"I am so lucky to have the receivers I do," said Penz, who also proved he is pretty good by hitting them time and again with pinpoint accuracy. "Our offensive line gave me lots of time, and our [receivers] are so good."

Twice in the first half, Penz lofted touchdown strikes to the right corner of the end zone, where Gant reeled them in despite sound coverage. Schmiesing caught Penz' 15-yard throw for the game's first touchdown and caught three more in the end zone, finishing his afternoon with eight catches for 138 yards and four scores.

A pregame downpour accompanied by lightning forced the 5,491 fans to retreat to their cars and pushed back the game's start by 30 minutes. Under those gray skies, the Oles started slowly, but Penz picked up steam as the clouds cleared away.

The Oles fumbled the ball away on their opening possession, and after Schmiesing's first touchdown catch, the Gusties drove to the Oles' 1. The St. Olaf defense held them to a 21-yard field goal by John Ostertag. But the Gusties took a 9-7 lead with 7 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first quarter when they blocked a punt, setting up Jordan Stolp's touchdown pass to Chad Arlt.

"We just had a mental relapse," said Gant, whose 10 catches moved him into second place on the Oles' career receiving chart with 154. "But we responded well. We have a great quarterback and a great offense, and we came back strong."

The Gusties' lead lasted little more than two minutes. A wide-open Schmiesing caught his second scoring strike of the game with 5:03 left in the first to put St. Olaf ahead 14-9, starting a run during which the Oles outscored Gustavus 42-3.

Penz, who entered the game ranked second in NCAA Division III in passing yardage, rolled up 286 yards through the air in the first half.

"I've never had a kid have a first half like Matt did," Oles coach Chris Meidt said. "He just picked them apart. He made some great throws, and Andrew and Horace are two of the best receivers in the country."

Rachel Blount • rblount@startribune.com