Higgins' 75-yard TD catch sparks win over Gusties

Mike Ludwig
October 15, 2005

Jay Higgins' (So., Lakeland, Minn./Stillwater) 75-yard touchdown reception with 9:50 to play in the fourth quarter sparked St. Olaf's 34-17 win over Gustavus at Manitou Field Saturday in Northfield, Minn.

Higgins had five catches for 112 yards, and rushed for 73 yards on 15 carries.

On the first play from scrimmage after the touchdown, Matt Dean (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) intercepted the Gusties' Jordan Stolp (So., Mankato, Minn.) and returned it to the Gustavus 16.

Preston St. John (So., Farmington, Minn.) then caught a three-yard score from Jason Wilsey (Sr., Columbia Heights, Minn.) to give the Oles a three-score advantage.

Wilsey finished 26-for-39 for 324 yards and three touchdowns. He moved ahead of Joe Hammond '02 for fourth on the career passing yardage list. Wilsey has thrown 16 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

Kerry Zajicek (Jr., Glencoe, Minn./G-SL) caught 11 passes for 101 yards to lead Gustavus.

Stolp finished 19-of-36 for 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Horace Gant (So., Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest) was the Oles' leading receiver, catching nine balls for 96 yards and a score.

St. Olaf fumbled four times. The Oles lost just one, but were forced to settle for field goals after coughing the ball up on two third-and-short plays inside the Gustavus 10.

St. Olaf (4-0 MIAC), 6-0 for the first time since 1970, is one of two undefeated teams in the MIAC. Fifth-ranked Saint John's (7-0, 5-0) beat 13th-ranked Concordia (5-1, 4-1) today.

The last time St. Olaf started 5-0 was in 1978 under the direction of head coach Tom Porter. In that season, the Oles lost to Gustavus 21-13 at home in week six. Today, at halftime, the Fieldhouse adjacent to Manitou Field was named Tom Porter Hall.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.