Hope Adebayo is a 5-foot-8, 201-pound senior running back for the University of St. Thomas Tommies. The University of San Diego Toreros will be glad when his college career concludes.
On a crisp Saturday afternoon in St. Paul, Minn., Adebayo scored on touchdown runs stretching 42, 60 and 70 yards, leading St. Thomas to a 34-14 romp past USD at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. A year ago, Adebayo cemented a 20-14 overtime win at USD, scoring on a 16-yard run.
With the win, St. Thomas (5-3, 4-0) maintained its share of first place atop the Pioneer Football League. USD fell to 4-3, 2-2.
Adebayo finished with 277 yards on 18 carries.
“The kid ran all over the field on us,” USD head coach Brandon Moore said by phone. “He broke tackles. We couldn’t get him down. We had him stopped a few times in the backfield and he jumped over us. The kid’s very explosive. All the credit to him.”
Adebayo’s 60-yard score came on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, giving the hosts a 27-7 lead.
After cutting the deficit to 27-14, USD drove to the Tommies’ 17 early in the fourth quarter, but turned the ball over on downs. Adebayo clinched the win on the next play from scrimmage, scoring on his 70-yard TD.
“It was a difficult game to watch at times,” said Moore. “We missed tackles and didn’t do things we pride ourselves on.”
USD turned the ball over three times, all in the first half. Grant Sergent was intercepted twice and lost a fumble.
Logan Gingg, who came into the game with 58 yards rushing on 20 carries, carried 23 times for 120 yards for USD. Ja’seem Reed caught four es for 74 yards and a touchdown.
