Goal-line stand propels Pipers to victory

With the Pipers (3-3, 1-3 in the MIAC) leading 16-9 late in the fourth quarter and punting to the Knights, Hamline snapped the ball into the end zone for a safety to make the score 16-11.

Carleton (3-3, 1-3) ran the free kick to the Hamline 46 with 2:18 left on the clock. Knight quarterback Darren Caspers went 4-of-11 on the ensuing drive for 39 yards, but threw three straight incompletions from the Hamline 2-yard line. Running back R.J. Jackson tried a halfback pass on four-and-goal, but the Pipers denied the score.

The Pipers held the Knights to 12 rushing yards in the contest. Carleton outgained the Pipers 267-192, but the Pipers forced four Knight turnovers. Carleton also fumbled five other times in the game.

After playing to a 9-9 tie in the first half, Hamline grabbed the lead late in the third quarter when quarterback James Leary found Andrew Seymour for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Seymour caught four passes for 38 yards and a score.

Leary was a perfect 4-of-4 for 48 yards on the drive. He finished the day 19-of-25 for 175 yards. He also led the team with 26 rushing yards.

Both teams traded safeties in the early going. The Pipers recovered their own fumble in the end zone late in the first quarter to give Carleton a 2-0 lead. Hamline free safety Robert Thompson  tackled Caspers in the end zone with 12:41 remaining in the second quarter to tie the game at 2-2.

Carleton scored the first offensive points of the game on a 13-play, 88-yard drive capped by Caspers' 10-yard touchdown pass to Matt Frank with 5:10 left in the half. Frank had 11 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown in the contest.

The Pipers answered with a Ben Dahmes 1-yard plunge with 11 seconds left in the half. Hamline went 79 yards in six plays on the drive. Leary was 5-for-5 for 78 yards to set up the score. Brent Nelson caught two passes for 43 yards, including a 33-yarder.

Linebackers Paul Klees and Jordan Below each totaled 11 tackles for the Pipers. Tyler Schultz added 10 tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception. The Pipers sacked Caspers 10 times in the game.

The Pipers will travel to St. John's next Saturday. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.