September 8

Piper football defeats Martin Luther College

In a game that saw three total attempts at scores by place kickers hit the posts and a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown, the Pipers finally pulled ahead for good with ten seconds remaining in the game to capture the win over Martin Luther College in St. Paul.

Chad SchmigelThe Knights jumped on the board first, scoring off of a Joel Voss three-yard run in the first quarter. The Pipers countered with two one-yard touchdown runs that sandwiched a field goal by sophomore Derek Johnson. In the first quarter, Mike LaBore ran the first touchdown in, while senior quarterback Chad Schmigel held onto the ball for the other in the fourth quarter. Both of Johnson's extra point attempts were successful, taking the Pipers to a 17-7 lead five minutes into the fourth quarter.

Jacob Schwartz from Martin Luther then immediately returned the kick 94 yards for a touchdown, closing the gap to three at 17-14. Eight minutes later, Schwartz scored on a 19-yard run. Schwartz also missed the point-after on each of the two touchdowns, hitting the uprights on both.

Hamline took back possession with just over two and a half Sean Lewisminutes remaining on the clock. The Pipers' drive down the field included two penalties, but with the help of Mark Masso's 18 yards on the ground, they closed in on the goal line. With just ten seconds remaining on the clock, Schmigel's ten-yard pass to sophomore Sean Lewis gave the Pipers a 23-19 lead. Johnson's extra point attempt hit the posts, but bounced through for a final score of 24-19.

With the win, the Pipers are 1-0 on the season. The Knights fell to 1-1. Hamline hosts St. Olaf at home next Saturday, September 15, at 1:00 p.m.

Close this window     Print this window