St. Thomas Shuts Out Marist 45-0; Peters 5 TDs

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of St. Thomas football team kicked off its 2023 campaign with an emphatic statement, dismantling Marist 45-0 in their season opener on Saturday, September 2, at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. Quarterback Andy Peters led a high-powered Tommies offense, directly contributing to five touchdowns in a dominant performance.

Peters, entering his second full season as the starter, showcased his dual-threat capabilities, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for three more. His aerial scores included a 22-yard strike to receiver Max Sims and a 12-yard connection with Andrew Ulrich. On the ground, Peters proved equally dangerous, finding the end zone three times himself. The Tommies’ offense amassed 378 total yards, consistently moving the ball against the Red Foxes.

Beyond Peters’ heroics, running back Shawn Portis added a 2-yard rushing touchdown, and kicker Kolbe Seiffert contributed with a 25-yard field goal, rounding out St. Thomas’s scoring.

While the offense put on a show, the Tommies’ defense was equally, if not more, impressive. They completely stifled the Marist attack, holding the Red Foxes to a mere 123 total yards for the entire game. Marist struggled to sustain drives, managing only three first downs and going 0-for-12 on crucial third-down conversion attempts. The St. Thomas defense also forced two turnovers, with linebacker Perrin Okikiola snaring an interception off Marist’s starting quarterback Brock Boudreau, who later saw backup Logan Clough throw another pick.

For St. Thomas, now in its third year of a five-year transition to NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and competing in the Pioneer Football League (PFL), the win sets a strong tone. Head coach Glenn Caruso’s squad finished 8-3 overall and 6-2 in PFL play in 2022, and this commanding victory signals their intent to build on that success. The shutout victory also marked a strong start for the Tommies’ PFL aspirations.

Marist, also a member of the Pioneer Football League, faced a tough road test to open their season. The Red Foxes, who finished 4-7 overall and 4-4 in PFL action last year under head coach Mike Willis, will look to regroup after a challenging outing that saw their offense unable to generate any momentum.

Looking ahead, St. Thomas will host Black Hills State University next Saturday, September 9, at O’Shaughnessy Stadium as they continue their non-conference schedule. Marist will return home to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to face Georgetown University on the same day, aiming to bounce back from their season-opening defeat.

For more information on St. Thomas Tommies athletics, visit Tommiesports.com. Information on Marist Red Foxes football can be found at GoRedFoxes.com.