Box Score | Photos (Dawid Chabowski) | Photos (Anthony Bottini)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Saint John's University defeated Augsburg 28-21 on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Collegeville. The win, coupled with Carleton's 41-28 win at Concordia-Moorhead, sets up a showdown for the MIAC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs between the Johnnies and Carleton next Saturday, Nov. 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Laird Stadium in Northfield.

Sophomore quarterback Joe Boyle (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) was nine of 16 passing for 101 yards and a touchdown, but, more importantly, rushed for 47 yards on 16 carries and two second-half touchdowns.

Augsburg took a 7-0 lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Berg to wide receiver Royce Winford with 3:59 left in the first quarter.

The Johnnies tied the game at 7-7 on an acrobatic 15-yard touchdown reception by senior wide receiver Bryan Busack (Vesta, Minn./Redwood Valley) with 10:18 left in the second frame. The play capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive; the longest scoring drive of the day for SJU, whose average starting field position was its own 48-yard line (as compared to Augsburg's own 24-yard line).

With the game tied 7-7 in the third quarter, Boyle turned a side-to-side scramble into a 12-yard touchdown run to give the Johnnies a 14-7 lead with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Following an interception by sophomore linebacker John Stanton (San Rafael, Calif./Marin Catholic) on the Auggies' next possession, Boyle ran in from four yards out to cap a five-play, 27-yard drive and give SJU (7-2, 5-2 MIAC) a 21-7 lead.

Augsburg was not finished, however. Two plays into the Auggies' next possession, Berg connected with Winford for a 63-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 21-14 with 13:31 left to play.

After an interception by senior defensive back Derek Stifter (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer), senior running back Jeff Schnobrich (New Ulm, Minn./Cathedral) scored from 19 yards out to give the Johnnies a 28-14 lead with 9:29 left.

Augsburg (5-4, 3-4 MIAC) ended the day's scoring with a two-yard touchdown pass from Berg to Winford, which capped an 11-play, 82-yard drive with 1:24 remaining. The Johnnies recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.

Schnobrich led the Johnnies' ground game with 56 yards on eight carries (7.0 avg.). Junior wide receiver Ben Vanderheyden (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) caught two passes for 32 yards, while senior tight end Brett Saladin (Woodstock, Ill.) made two receptions for 29 yards.

Senior linebacker Nick Kotsmith (Foley, Minn.) led the SJU defense with eight tackles (six solo), while sophomore defensive lineman Kyle Schroeder (Richmond, Minn./Rocori) collected four tackles, all four for a loss, and two sacks.

Berg ended the day 30 of 53 passing for 328 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Wide receiver Mike Nourie led the Auggies' air attack with 10 catches for 119 yards, while Winford ended the day with six catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns. The last time two opposing players totaled over 100 yards receiving each was Dec. 4, 1993 against Mount Union, Ohio, in the NCAA Division III playoffs (Rob Atwood, 141 yards and Ed Bubonics, 101 yards).

With the win, legendary SJU head coach John Gagliardi improved his career record to 460-124-11 (.782) in 60 seasons, including a 436-118-10 (.782) record in 56 seasons at SJU. Today marked the five-year anniversary of Gagliardi's NCAA-record 409th career victory (29-26 over Bethel).

SJU is now 61-7-2 all-time against Augsburg, including a 50-4-1 record under the direction of Gagliardi.