Gusties Earn First Win of Season with 35

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Gustavus football team earned its first win of the 2025 season in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon, defeating St. Olaf 35-21 in Northfield. The Gusties used big plays on both sides of the ball, including a first-quarter pick-six by Chance Swansson and four touchdown passes from Dylan Blount, to pull away from the Oles and secure their first conference victory.

After a pair of defensive stops to open the game, the Gusties broke through when Swansson jumped a route and returned an interception for a touchdown from 40 yards out, giving Gustavus a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. St. Olaf responded late in the period with a 44-yard field goal to make it 7-3 after one.

St. Olaf took its only lead of the game midway through the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run to move ahead 10-7. Gustavus answered in the closing seconds of the half as Blount led a 10-play, 70-yard drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to Dom Mathies as time expired, sending the Gusties into the locker room with a 14-10 advantage.

Late in the third quarter, a 20-yard punt return by Chance Swansson gave the Gusties great field position at the St. Olaf 44-yard line. On the first play of the series, Blount connected with Caden Kleinschmidt for a 44-yard touchdown pass, extending the Gustavus lead to 21-10.

Blount and Kleinschmidt linked up again early in the fourth, this time from 25 yards out, to stretch the Gustavus lead to 28-10. St. Olaf responded with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, then added a field goal to close the gap to 28-21 with just over six minutes remaining.

Facing third-and-nine near midfield with under three minutes to play, the Gusties slammed the door when Blount found Walker Hennen down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown, sealing the 35-21 victory.

Blount turned in his best performance of the season, completing 22-of-37 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns. Kleinschmidt led all receivers with seven catches for 136 yards and two scores, while Hennen added 86 yards and a touchdown on two receptions.

The Gustavus defense came up clutch with three interceptions, including Swansson's pick-six. Eric Lyons Jr. and Ethan Bartell paced the defense with 10 tackles apiece.

The Gusties return home next Saturday, Oct. 18, for a matchup against St. Scholastica at Hollingsworth Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary Scoring Play Visiting Team Score Home Team Score 1st Quarter GAC STO

10:27 - GAC - Swansson,Chance 40 yd interception (Forsythe,Owen kick)

7 0

00:36 - STO - Hess,Ethan 44 yd field goal 7 plays, 33 yards, TOP 03:43

7 3 2nd Quarter GAC STO

05:52 - STO - Crosby,Luke 1 yd run (Hess,Ethan kick), 16 plays, 83 yards, TOP 08:05

7 10

00:00 - GAC - Mathies,Dom 6 yd pass from Blount,Dylan (Forsythe,Owen kick) 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:51

14 10 3rd Quarter GAC STO

02:49 - GAC - Kleinschmidt,Caden 44 yd pass from Blount,Dylan (Forsythe,Owen kick) 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 00:11

21 10 4th Quarter GAC STO

14:00 - GAC - Kleinschmidt,Caden 25 yd pass from Blount,Dylan (Forsythe,Owen kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 02:21

28 10

11:26 - STO - Gartzke,Gus 4 yd run (Pinkney Jr.,Tory pass), 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:28

28 18

06:37 - STO - Hess,Ethan 39 yd field goal 15 plays, 62 yards, TOP 04:16

28 21

02:48 - GAC - Hennen,Walker 54 yd pass from Blount,Dylan (Forsythe,Owen kick) 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 03:39

35 21

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