Box Score | Listen to Archived Game | Photos (John Biasi/Dawid Chabowski)
Post-Game Videos:
-Senior Running Back Kellen Blaser (0:20)
-Freshman Quarterback John Ries (0:22)
-Junior Linebacker John Stanton (0:25)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 4 Saint John's clinched at least a share of its MIAC-record 31st conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs with a 28-7 win over Augsburg on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis.
The title is the 27th under the direction of head coach John Gagliardi and the 14th in the last 19 seasons. SJU (9-0, 7-0 MIAC) will make its 24th postseason appearance, the 11th in the past 12 seasons, Nov. 21, at a site to be determined. The playoff field of 32 teams will be announced Sunday, Nov. 15.
The Johnnies took an early 7-0 lead via a fumble on the opening kickoff. Augsburg's Cameron Krugerud fumbled the ball after faking the reverse, and freshman Kevin Wenner (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) returned it 16 yards for an SJU touchdown.
Senior Kellen Blaser (Austin, Minn./Pacelli) scored from two yards out to make it 14-0 with 6:49 left in the first quarter.
Blaser then caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from freshman John Ries (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) with 1:13 remaining in the first half. The play capped an 18-play, 98-yard scoring drive that consumed 10:28. Ries ended the day eight of 15 passing for 91 yards in his first career start, while Blaser recorded 59 yards on 15 carries.
The Johnnies converted seven of its nine third-down attempts and outgained Augsburg (4-5, 3-4 MIAC) 183-33 in the first half, including a 110-(-8) advantage on the ground.
The Auggies' Tyler Judkins returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7 with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Kerry Daigs (Los Angeles, Calif./Verbum Dei) scored his first career touchdown from three yards out with 58 seconds remaining in the game to end the scoring.
The Johnnies amassed 213 yards rushing on 58 carries in the game and held Augsburg to zero yards on 19 carries. Junior Jakob Reding (Eden Prairie, Minn.) gained 69 yards on 10 carries, while freshman Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) posted 65 yards on 15 carries. Sophomore Mike Bonynge (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer), senior Ethan Eid (Arden Hills, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), and juniors Billy Lawrence (Edina, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) and John Stanton (San Rafael, Calif./Marin Catholic) all totaled five tackles apiece. Eid and junior Griffin Hayes (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) tallied 1.5 sacks each, while Stanton posted his second interception of the season.
SJU's top-ranked defense held the MIAC's top passing attack to 100 yards on 15 of 32 passing. The Johnnies posted a 305-100 advantage in total yardage and were 10 of 17 on third down.
With the win, Gagliardi improved his career record to 470-125-11 (.785) in 61 seasons overall and 446-119-10 (.784) in 57 seasons at SJU. The Johnnies have now won each of the last 12 meetings (29 of the last 30) and are 62-7-2 all-time against the Auggies, including a 52-4-1 record under the direction of Gagliardi.
SJU returns home to end its regular season against Carleton on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.
