Morris, MN – It was a career night for Hamline University quarterback Alejandro Villanueva, as the Pipers QB threw for five touchdowns to help lead his team to a 49-28 victory over the University of Minnesota-Morris Lions. Villanueva threw for a single game high five touchdowns, completing 17 of 27 passes to lead the offense. Gilbert Guerra had his second straight 100+ yard performance, rushing for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Both teams took advantage of their first possessions. Hamline took the opening kickoff and marched 64-yards in five plays. Malik Wynn got things going, rushing twice for seven yards each time. On second and 7, Villanueva found Eric Pfenning-Wendt for 12 yards and a first down. On the next play, Villanueva went back to pass, connecting with Pfenning-Wendt for a 35-yard touchdown.

Minnesota-Morris responded right away, moving 53 yards and nine plays to tie the score. The big play of the drive was a 30-yard strike from Marcus Reeb to Dylan Naughton down to the Hamline 30. Three plays later, Blake Johnson went around the left end and in for a 6-yard score.

Both teams were forced to punt on their next possession, but Hamline retook the lead just before the end of the first quarter. It was an impressive six play, 80-yard drive that saw the Hamline quarterback complete two of his three pass attempts, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Wilson to make it 14-7.

The Lions methodically moved down the field, going 55 yards in 13 plays, taking 6:42 off the clock. They reached the Pipers 16 where they faced a fourth and 9. The coaching staff opted for a field goal attempt, but it sailed wide left keeping Hamline on top by seven.

Back the other direction the Pipers went, mounting another impressive 80-yard drive, this time taking 14 plays and 6:09 off the clock before making it a 21-7 lead. The Pipers converted four third-down conversions during the drive. On the 14th play of the drive, a third and goal at the Morris three, Villanueva found Wilson for his second touchdown reception of the day.

The Lions responded, this time moving 55 yards in just seven plays, taking 2:09 off the clock. Izayah Boss scored from 4 yards out to make it a 21-14 game. That would be the score heading into the half.

The Pipers restored the 14-point advantage. After forcing Minnesota-Morris to punt on their first possession of the second half, Hamline mounted an 83 yard, 15 play drive that took 6:58 off the clock. Guerra got the drive going, carrying the ball on five of the first six plays and had eight total carries for 44 yards during the drive. On second and 20 at the Morris 32, Villanueva connected with Wilson for the third touchdown of the day for Wilson.

The Lions scored on their next possession with Boss bursting up the middle for the 1-yard touchdown. The score was set up by a 42-yard pass completion from Reeb to Ethan Tang that put the ball at the one. Boss scored on the next play.

Hamline immediately restored the 14-point advantage. Starting from their own 28, the team moved 72 yards in six plays before Wilson had his fourth touchdown reception of the game.

On the first play of the next possession for the Lions, Reeb was intercepted by Erik Aune and returned to the Morris 41. This time Hamline stayed on the ground, needing 11 plays before Guerra scored from 1 yard out.

The Lions did score on their next drive thanks to a 20-yard touchdown run by Boss, his third of the day. The defense then forced a punt by the Pipers, but Morris could not move the ball on their next possession either, turning the ball over on downs at their own 35. Six plays later, Guerra went over the right side for a 4-yard touchdown, his second of the day. The running back carried the ball in all six plays on the drive. That made it 49-28, which would be the final score.

The Pipers produced 431 yards of total offense, including 160 yards on the ground. Most impressive was that the team put together three touchdown drives of at least 80 yards and had possession of the ball for 35:06.

Villanueva completed 17 of 27 passes for 271 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Wilson had seven catches for 113 yards and four TDs. Alec Ralph had five catches for 82 yards and Pfenning-Wendt had four receptions for 68 yards and a TD. Guerra had 102 yards rushing and two TDs on 26 carries.

Jevon Jones led the Hamline defense, recording nine tackles. Zach Griebel had eight. Kicker Durham Welch made all seven extra point attempts.

The Hamline University Pipers (2-0) are off next Saturday. They travel to Northfield to take on the Carleton Knights on September 23 in the opening contest of MIAC play. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00.

Boxscore

by Robert Pannier