Box Score | Listen to Archived Game | Photos (John Biasi/Dawid Chabowski) | Listen to Game-Winning Field Goal Call (courtesy Mark Lewandowski, WBHR-660 AM)
Post-Game Videos:
-Senior Running Back Kellen Blaser (0:24)
-Senior Kicker/Punter Russell Gliadon (0:20)
-Senior Defensive Lineman Kyle Schroeder (0:37)
-Senior Wide Receiver Ben Vanderheyden (0:31)
-Senior Linebacker Ryan Wimmer (0:23)
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior Russell Gliadon (Fridley, Minn.) made a school-record 49-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to give No. 6 SJU a 16-14 win over Bethel in front of an announced Homecoming crowd of 10,567 on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Gliadon missed the potential game-tying extra point with 1:47 remaining and had an earlier field-goal attempt, from 38 yards out, blocked in the first quarter. The 49-yard field goal surpassed the old school record of 47 yards recorded by Mike Schmidt at St. Thomas on Nov. 7, 1981.
The Johnnies scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and out-gained the Royals 354 to 295 (162-39 in the fourth quarter alone), including a 178-140 edge on the ground. The two teams combined for eight turnovers in the game.
Bethel (3-2, 2-1 MIAC) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 52-yard flea flicker from Josh Aakre to Jay Hilbrands.
Following a blocked punt by sophomore defensive lineman Jack Daggett (Hutchinson, Minn.) early in the second quarter, the Johnnies and Royals exchanged possessions by way of a turnover on downs and four consecutive turnovers to end the half.
The Royals' Logan Flannery, who rushed for an even 100 yards on 21 carries, scored on a 2-yard pass from Aakre five seconds into the fourth quarter to give BU a 14-0 lead.
Junior quarterback Joe Boyle (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) scored from three yards out to cap a 12-play, 61-yard drive with 9:25 remaining.
The Johnnies forced Bethel to punt and took over on their own 32 with 4:42 left. On fourth-and-three from midfield, freshman running back Harry Awe (St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) hit junior tight end Josh Overman (Albany, Minn.) on a 26-yard halfback pass to the Bethel 24. Senior running back Kellen Blaser (Austin, Minn./Pacelli) took it the rest of the way on three carries, scoring from four yards out with 2:55 left. As mentioned above, Gliadon missed the game-tying extra point to make it 14-13 in favor of the Royals.
The Johnnies then forced a three-and-out, which at one time was a second-and-three, and moved from its own 35 to the Royals' 32 yard line in nine plays with no timeouts. Gliadon then hit the game-winning kick from 49 yards out to give SJU (5-0, 3-0 MIAC) its first lead of the game.
Boyle ended the afternoon 13 of 28 passing for 150 yards and three interceptions. Freshman running back Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) led the Johnnies ground attack with 79 yards on 19 carries. Overman and senior wide receiver Ben Vanderheyden (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) caught four passes apiece for 58 and 60 yards, respectively. Senior linebacker Ryan Wimmer (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) led SJU with 13 tackles (nine solo), including one tackle for loss. Senior defensive backs Dominic Haik (Minneapolis, Minn./Totino-Grace) and Bobby Klint (Coon Rapids, Minn./Totino-Grace) each recorded an interception.
Aakre was 12 of 18 passing for 155 yards and added 37 yards on 13 carries. Linebacker Nate Voronyak collected 15 tackles (12 solo), including one tackle for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles to lead the Royal defense.
SJU is now 26-5 all-time against Bethel, including a 15-1 record in Collegeville, and 64-16-2 in 82 known Homecoming games.
With the win, SJU head coach John Gagliardi improved his career record to 466-125-11 (.783) in 61 seasons overall and 442-119-10 (.783) in 57 seasons at SJU.
The Johnnies travel to face Hamline next Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Klas Field in St. Paul.
