If the St. Thomas football program were a college student, this would be its senior season as a Division I player. The first three years have been a resounding success this year’s Tommies plan to extend into the new season that lies ahead.

St. Thomas plays the season opener Thursday night at 6 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. 

This will be the first home Thursday night football game of the Division I era for the Tommies and head coach Glenn Caruso, who coached in five night games during the program’s Division III era.

KSTP Sports caught up earlier this week with Caruso and senior WR Jacob Wildermuth (Wayzata HS). 

***Click the video box above to hear from Caruso and Wildermuth***

Thursday begins the 120th season of Tommie football, and the fourth of the Division I era.

Caruso is 15-0 as Tommies coach in home openers.

For the third consecutive season, the Tommies are expected to finish top-3 in the Pioneer Football League (PFL) standings. St. Thomas was picked to finish second, receiving 87 total votes, including one first place vote, from the PFL coaches.

St. Thomas Sports Information contributed to this story