ST. PAUL, MN – The Hamline University Pipers looked like they would blow out Macalester College on Saturday evening, taking a 23-point advantage with 19 minutes left in the contest, but the Fighting Scots rallied for 21 points to pull within two before falling. Alejandro Villanueva threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and Dawson Schaffer had nine catches for 219 yards and three scores.

Macalester took the opening kickoff, but were forced to punt after just three plays. That gave Hamline the ball at their own 14-yard line, and the team made short work of the possession. Villanueva found D’Nari Adams for 14 yards to begin the drive, then went up top for Schaffer down the middle for a 72-yard score to make it 7-0.

On the third possession of the game, the Pipers were back in the end zone. The Hamline defense had backed the Scots up to their own 5-yard line, where they were forced to punt. The punt went 30 yards, giving Hamline the ball at the Macalester 35. A 17-yard completion put the ball at the 18 and, three plays later, Nicholas Vasko raced up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 13.

Early in the second, Durham Welch hit a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16. Hamline added one more touchdown before the end of the half, going 80 yards in six plays. Villanueva started the drive with a 19-yard completion down the middle to Eric Pfenning-Wendt. A 12-yard run by Malik Wynn was followed by an 8-yard run by the running back. Next, it was time for Vasko to move the ball on the ground, gaining 15 yards, then four more. On second and six at the 22, Villanueva found Schaffer for the score to make it 23-0.

The Fighting Scots had done nothing offensively in this game, but were able to get on the scoreboard right before the end of the half, going 64 yards in 14 plays. Macalester had not been able to move the ball on the ground, but this possession they were able to do so, running on seven of the first nine plays of the drive. They finally scored when Jude Wallin found Paxton Boyd for a 2-yard touchdown.

The Pipers received the kickoff in the second half, and immediately scored, going 64 yards in six plays. Villanueva remained red-hot, completing his first four passes of the drive, then Vasko rushed up the middle for 22 yards down to the Macalester seven. The senior quarterback then kept the ball, racing up the middle for 7 yards and the score.

Macalester responded, going 75 yards in 11 plays. The Scots made two third-down conversions to continue the drive, then got a 7-yard touchdown pass from Wallin to Brian Maddox on fourth and three to make it 30-14.

The Hamline offense would not be denied, going the opposite way to restore the 23-point advantage. Vasko added a 12 yard and an 11-yard run on the drive, and Villanueva found Schaffer for a 35-yard touchdown.

This game looked all but over, but the Scots refused to go away. After forcing Hamline to punt on their next possession, the team went 66 yards in seven plays to cut the deficit to 16. Wallin completed five of seven passes on the drive, and Vasco Sierra scored from 4 yards out to make it 37-21.

The Pipers looked to seal the victory on their next possession, but a 28-yard field goal attempt missed, giving the Scots life. They took advantage of it, moving 80 yards in seven plays before cutting the deficit to eight. Wallin continued to impress, finding Gabe Kasper for a 23-yard completion, then connecting with Henry Clymer for 12 more. Once again, Macalester found themselves facing a fourth down, but Wallin bailed them out, finding Clymer deep down the right sideline for a 39-yard touchdown to make it 37-29.

What had been a blowout suddenly became the game of the night. The Pipers were forced to punt on their next possession, putting the ball at the Macalester 35. Wallin was undaunted, completing six of his first seven pass attempts to move the ball to the Hamline 19, facing a second and five. Two incomplete passes set up another fourth down opportunity, and Wallin delivered again, connecting with Clymer for 6 yards and a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Sierra scored from 3 yards out to make it 37-35.

All that was left to force this game into overtime was for Macalester to convert the two-point conversion. However, Wallin’s pass attempt fell short, sealing the victory for the Pipers.

Villanueva was 17-25 passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns. The senior quarterback also had 66 yards rushing and a touchdown on nine attempts. Vasko had 15 carries for 97 yards and a score. The Hamline defense was led by Croix Zacharias, who had 15 tackles.

Hamline University (3-5) Springs in action next week when they welcome St. Scholastica (2-6) the town. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.

Boxscore

by Robert Pannier