Box Score | Photos (John Biasi/Dawid Chabowski) | Post-Game Press Conferences: Coe (3:35), SJU (2:13)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 21 Coe College (Iowa) senior linebacker Calvin Thomas returned an interception and fumble for touchdowns as the visiting Kohawks defeated No. 4 Saint John's University 34-27 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 21, in Collegeville.

The Johnnies out-gained Coe 418-235 in the game, but committed six turnovers. Coe advances to face St. Thomas in the second round next Saturday, Nov. 28, in St. Paul.

The Kohawks took a 6-0 lead on a one-yard run by Brad Boyle with 6:05 left in the first quarter. The ensuing point-after attempt was blocked.

On third-and-goal from the four, SJU junior quarterback Joe Boyle's pass was tipped and intercepted by Thomas, who took it 93 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-0. Defensive pass interference was called in the end zone but overruled due to the deflected pass.

The Johnnies responded with an eight play, 61-yard scoring drive that ended on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Joe Boyle (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) to sophomore wide receiver Sam Pederson (La Crosse, Wis./Aquinas). Under pressure, Boyle scrambled and found Pederson, who then cut across the grain and scampered into the end zone. The extra point by senior Russell Gliadon (Fridley, Minn.) cut the SJU deficit to 13-7.

SJU junior defensive lineman Griffin Hayes (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) halted a prime scoring opportunity for Coe by forcing a fumble on the Johnnies' own 5. The fumble was just sixth turnover committed by the Kohawks this season. On third-and-one from the 14, however, freshman running back Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) fumbled the ball back to Coe following a 16-yard gain. Six plays later, B. Boyle hit Ryan Jones for a 10-yard touchdown to increase the Kohawks' lead to 20-7.

Boyle and the Johnnies responded on the ensuing drive, which covered 70 yards on four plays. Again,  Boyle scrambled out of the pocket and found senior wide receiver Ben Vanderheyden (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) for a 58-yard touchdown. The PAT was good, making it 20-14 in favor of Coe at the half.

The Kohawks assembled an eight-play, 58-yard scoring drive halfway thru the third quarter, which ended on a 19-yard touchdown pass from B. Boyle to Michael Rozum.

SJU cut the deficit pack to a one-score game (27-20) on a seven-yard pass from Boyle to sophomore wide receiver Andrew Rotschafer (Eden Prairie, Minn.) to end the third quarter.

The Johnnies forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and took over on their own 38. On first-and-10 on the Coe 33, Boyle scrambled for a seven-yard gain but was injured on the play. He stayed in for the next play, which gained two yards to set up a third-and-short, but then left the field under his own power. Freshman quarterback John Ries (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) fumbled the snap on the very next play, which was recovered by Thomas and returned 76 yards for a Coe touchdown. The extra point by Elliot Rausa made it 34-20.

SJU did not quit, however. With 4:27 left in the fourth quarter, Boyle orchestrated a 16-play, 97-yard scoring drive that ended in a two-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Kellen Blaser (Austin, Minn./Pacelli).

Coe recovered the onside kick and ran out the final 1:08.

Boyle ended the day 20 of 34 passing for 285 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson gained 101 yards on 24 carries to post his second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance. Blaser led the SJU air attack with six catches for 69 yards. Senior safety Bobby Klint (Coon Rapids, Minn./Totino-Grace) led the SJU defense with 10 tackles (eight solo) and a fumble recovery.

B. Boyle led the Kohawks with a 14-for-30 performance for 161 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game with a shoulder injury late in the third quarter. Brendan Leiran posted 51 yards on 18 carries. Thomas added 16 tackles (10 solo) to his pair of defensive touchdowns, while Tate Harrison posted 18 tackles (nine solo), including two tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Weymiller totaled 14 tackles (11 solo) and 3.5 sacks in the contest.