Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Saint John's fell to Bethel 14-9 on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Arden Hills.

SJU turned two of its seven possessions inside the Royals' 30-yard line into a total of nine points (2-for-5 in the red zone) and outgained Bethel 359-164 in the game.

Following an SJU interception, Bethel quarterback Josh Aakre capped a five-play, 23-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give the Royals a 7-0 lead with 7:47 left in the first quarter.

The Johnnies cut the deficit to 7-3 on their fourth trip into Bethel territory on a 29-yard field goal by senior Russell Gliadon (Fridley, Minn.) with 2:51 remaining in the first half.

The Royals' Logan Flannery increased the Bethel lead to 14-3 on a two-yard touchdown run with 7:45 left in the third quarter.

A high snap over the head of Bethel punter Kevin Ness gave the Johnnies the ball on the three-yard line with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. A one-yard quarterback sneak by junior Jordan Hansel (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) two plays later cut the Johnnies' deficit to 14-9 with 9:29 left in the game. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed.

SJU had the ball three more times in the fourth quarter to no avail. The Johnnies marched 69 yards on 10 plays down to the Bethel two-yard line as time expired.

Hansel ended the day 28 of 53 passing for 256 yards. The 53 passing attempts are the second-most in a single game in school history. Junior Kellen Blaser (Austin, Minn./Pacelli) led SJU with 49 yards rushing on seven attempts. Junior wide receiver Ben Vanderheyden (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) led the Johnnies with 10 catches for 149 yards. Senior running back Jeff Schnobrich (New Ulm, Minn./Cathedral) rushed for 38 yards on 10 carries and caught eight passes for 25 yards in the game.

Junior defensive lineman Jimmy Sharpe (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and senior linebacker Nick Kotsmith (Foley, Minn.) led the Johnnie defense with nine tackles and one tackle for loss each.

Aakre was seven of 13 passing for 63 yards, while Flannery gained 89 yards on 29 carries. Linebacker Nate Voronyak collected 13 tackles (11 solo), including two tackles for loss and one sack for the Royals (2-3, 1-2 MIAC).

SJU edged Bethel in first downs, 21-13. The Johnnies were five of 17 on third down (one of five on fourth down), while Bethel was just three of 14.

SJU (3-2, 1-2 MIAC) hosts Hamline as part of Family Weekend next Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.