Football outlasts Tommies in sixth OT

Abby Fournier
September 20, 2008

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Coty Watkins rushed for 137 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the sixth overtime, as St. Olaf outlasted the University of St. Thomas 29-23 in an MIAC football game on Saturday afternoon.

The game's six overtimes set an NCAA Division III record.

Watkins also caught the game-tying touchdown with 4:44 left in regulation, capping the Oles' 11-play, 99-yard drive.

The teams went scoreless in the first two extra periods, scored field goals in the third and touchdowns in the fourth.

St. Thomas jumped to a 14-0 lead. UST's Brady Ervin returned an interception for a touchdown at the 5:47 mark in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. The Tommies scored again on a 65-yard completion to Fritz Waldvogel after St. Olaf fumbled inside the Toms' two-yardline.

Leon Clark's 78 yard punt return put St. Olaf on the board with 2:24 left in the first half.

John Haberman's ten-yard pass to Watkins tied the game at 14-14 to push it into overtime.

Nick Ondler's field goal put St. Olaf up 17-14 in the third OT, and was matched by Eric Taylor's 27 yard field goal for UST to force a fourth OT.

The Tommies missed another field goal but blocked Ondler's attempt in the fourth OT to stay alive for a fifth.

At it again, the Oles pushed for a touchdown on a 25-yd. completion to Evan Endsley in the fifth OT, only to be matched by a St. Thomas touchdown to tie it up at 23-23.

In the sixth OT, Taylor's 43-yard field goal attempt for the Tommies went wide, opening the door for the Oles and Watkins' 16-yard rush for a touchdown closed out the game.

John Haberman was 13-for-22 on the day, with one interception, and rushed for 42 yards.

Evan Endsley rushed for 28 yards, and had four receptions and a touchdown.

Michael Williams led the Ole defense with 9.0 tackles including a sac assisted by Zac Henschel, while Adam Concannon had 5.5 tackles.

St. Olaf travels to Augsburg College next Saturday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard live on 920 AM KDHL.

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