WAVERLY, IOWA - Wartburg withstood a fourth-quarter comeback by St. Thomas to hold on for a 37-31 victory in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.

St. Thomas, which trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, pulled within six on a 25-yard field goal by Paul Graupner with 52 seconds remaining.

The Tommies then recovered the onside kick at the Wartburg 49-yard line. On third-and-7, the Knights' Logan Pitz intercepted a pass to seal the victory for the Knights (11-0).

Charlie Dowdle caught two TD passes in the second half, and John Gould passed for 279 yards for the Tommies (8-3).

NEWS SERVICES