Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
Cheered on by a record crowd of 2,405 at Klas Field, Hamline put up a strong defensive show and got another big game from RB Austin Duncan to defeat Macalester, 23-13, and win back The Paint Bucket from their Snelling Ave. neighbors for the first time since 2011.
Duncan rushed for 240 yards and a touchdown as Hamline jumped off to a 2-0 start for the first time in nine years.
On a brisk night for football, however, Duncan shared the spotlight with a hard charging HU defense that held the Scots to just 229 yards for the game. The Piper defenders came up with a pair of interception, two fumble recoveries, five tackles for loss, two sacks and a safety.
HU took the opening kickoff, marched the length but came away empty on a missed field goal. They then set the tone for the night later in the quarter when Zach Schwalbach intercepted a Samson Bialostok pass at the Scot 17. Two Plays later, Duncan barrelled in from 10 yards out and the Pipers took the lead for good.
The margin stretched to 9-0 on the first play of the second quarter when the Scots snapped the ball past the punter and out of the end zone. Mac got on the board with a touchdown with just one second left int he half and HU went to the lockewrroom with a 9-6 lead.
A Forrest Coughlin field goal midway in the third quarter made it 12-6 . After stopping the Scots, Hamline took advantage of a short punt to march 49 yards in four plays. Naji El-Araby zipped into the end zone on a two yard run. Tim Bona then found Phillip Sherman for the two point conversion and the lead was suddenly 20-6.
Coughlin added a 30-yard field goal (a career best) in the fourth quarter and the Scots responded with a late score to close out the scoring.
Duncan, who led the MIAC in rushing last year, carred the ball 32 times. He lost just five yards all night and had a long gain of 51. He has gained 390 yards in two games and is well ahead of his record-setting pace of 1,460 yards in a season set last year. His career total of 2,718 yards is just 180 shy of Monroe Walker's school record set in the 1970s.
In addition to Duncan's big night, Bona completed 15 of 27 passes for 125 yards. He again spread the ball around, connecting with seven different receivers.
Hamline now heads into MIAC play next week at Gustavus Adolphus (also 2-0). Game time in St. Peter is 1:00 p.m.