Last season Engnell ran for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns and it seemed like he was poised to break another record every game. When it came time for this fall’s season, no one knew how good Gust was going to perform after injuring himself last year early in the season.

“He’s picking up where Jake Engnell left off,” said head football coach Chris Lindquist.
According to the Star Tribune, Gust finished the regular season with 1,347 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.  These numbers gained Gust second place in the Metro area in total yards and first in total carries.

“Our offense dictates that we have one guy (Gust) that does the vast majority of the work,” said Lindquist.

Gust has been playing football since about first grade and has many fond memories.

“My favorite memory was probably last year, I didn’t get to play, but homecoming – it was pretty crazy,” said Gust.

Over the years Gust had many coaches help him with football, but one coach really stood out when he felt like giving up after his injury.

“Coach Norton, because he helped me to keep playing last year,” said Gust.

Gust has also had many great accomplishments while playing football.

“This year’s amount of rushing yards is probably my greatest accomplishment (so far),” said Gust.

As of October 24, Gust ranks in the top ten in state with 1,491 total rushing yards after his stellar performance in the 1st section game at Duluth East, which the Saints won 35-13, and where he ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

“I like being ahead, but at the end, the feeling of winning is the best,” said Gust.

Every game, large numbers of fans (parents and superfans) make the trip to wherever the game is, whether that be home or away.

“It’s pretty crazy, because no other school has that, it’s just St. Francis,” said Gust.

Each week Gust prepares for next Friday’s game in the same way,

“I just go to practice every day and work as hard as I can to get better,” he said.

His teammates like senior football captain Brandon Hartzberg agree with him.

“Gust is a great teammate, he works hard and does his job all the time,” said Hartzberg “and when he’s on the field it helps everybody else.”

In fact, Gust’s plans for the offseason are to hit the weight room and maybe join track to get a little faster in preparation for his senior year

“Nobody runs the ball more than us and we rely on multiple guys to do this,” said Lindquist, “but really one guy (Gust) has to do the most.”