Box Score | Photos (John Biasi/Dawid Chabowski) | Listen to Archived Game
Post-game Videos:
-Junior quarterback Joe Boyle (0:41)
-Senior defensive lineman Nick Gunderson (0:25)
RIVER FALLS, Wis. – No. 13 Saint John's University erased two double-digit deficits to defeat the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 28-24 on Saturday, Sept. 5, in River Falls, Wis. The contest was the season opener for both teams.
Following a missed field-goal attempt by SJU, the Falcons took a 7-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Luessenheide to wide receiver Wade Schlichting, which concluded a 16-play, 80-yard drive near the end of the first quarter. Less than four minutes later, Luessenheide escaped the pursuit of junior linebacker John Stanton (San Rafael, Calif./Marin Catholic) and heaved a two-yard prayer to tight end Connor Graves to increase the lead to 14-0. Kicker Chad Blair then added a 37-yard field goal with less than eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.
SJU got on the scoreboard when junior quarterback Joe Boyle (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) found senior wide receiver Ben Vanderheyden (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) streaking to the back corner of the end zone from 24 yards out. The extra point by senior Russell Gliadon (Fridley, Minn.) cut the deficit to 17-7 with 4:55 remaining in the first half.
On the ensuing possession, a shoe-string tackle from senior Bobby Klint (Coon Rapids, Minn./Totino-Grace) limited the Falcons' Taylor Edwards to a 43-yard gain and provided UWRF a first down on the Johnnies' 20-yard line. Edwards left the game due to injury on the play. Four plays later, kicker Chad Blair missed a 34-yard field goal attempt, giving SJU possession on its own 20. A seven-yard scramble by Boyle, followed by consecutive completions to Vanderheyden and sophomore Andrew Rotschafer (Eden Prairie, Minn.), brought the ball to the Falcons' 46-yard line. Another Boyle-to-Vanderheyden connection capped the 80-yard drive with a 46-yard hookup on the next play. Gliadon's extra point ended the first-half's scoring at 17-14 in favor of the home squad.
Following a scoreless third quarter, UWRF's backup running back Ahmad Palmer gave the Falcons a 24-14 lead on a five-yard run to cap a 14-play, 72-yard scoring drive with 12:06 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Johnnies responded with a nine-play, 73-yard scoring drive that ended with a six-yard scamper by senior running back Kellen Blaser (Austin, Minn./Pacelli). The tally cut the deficit to 24-21 with 8:38 left.
On the first offensive play of the ensuing drive, senior defensive tackle Nick Gunderson (Woodbury, Minn.) forced his second fumble of the game and junior defensive end Griffin Hayes (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) recovered to give SJU optimal field position on UWRF's 30-yard line.
Penalties, however, pushed the Johnnies back to a first-and-25 after the drive's first two plays. Following an incomplete pass, freshman running back Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) scampered for a nine-yard gain to set up a third-and-16. Boyle then connected with Blaser on a 16-yard pass for a first down on UWRF's 20. Junior running back Jakob Reding (Eden Prairie, Minn.) chewed up 17 yards on four carries to bring the ball to the three-yard line. Boyle then found junior tight end Josh Overman (Albany, Minn.) on a three-yard strike to give SJU its first lead of the game, 28-24, with 4:01 left.
On a second-and-four from the Johnnies' 47-yard line, senior defensive lineman Kyle Schroeder (Richmond, Minn./Rocori) collected a crucial sack, an 11-yard loss and his second of the game, to knock UWRF back to the other side of the 50. On fourth-and-11, Luessenheide connected on what would have been a first-down pass reception to tight end Ryan Hansen, but a 15-yard clipping penalty wiped it out. The fourth-and-12 pass attempt fell incomplete, giving SJU possession and the ability to run out the clock.
Boyle ended the day 17 of 27 passing for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Reding led the Johnnies' rush attack with 74 yards on 15 carries and caught two passes for 49 yards. Vanderheyden snagged four passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Gunderson led the defense with 10 tackles (eight solo), including one tackle for loss and two forced fumbles. Klint also added 10 tackles (seven solo), while senior linebacker Ryan Wimmer (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) collected eight (three solo) and half a tackle for loss.
Luessenheide finished the game 15 of 25 passing for 205 yards and two scores. Edwards, who left the game in the second quarter, led the Falcons with 83 yards on 14 carries. Wide receiver Michael Woodward has four catches for 103 yards.
With the win, SJU head coach John Gagliardi improved his career record to 462-125-11 (.782) in 61 seasons overall and 438-119-10 (.781) in 57 seasons at SJU.
The Johnnies (1-0, 0-0 MIAC) host Wis.-Eau Claire next Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville. SJU defeated the Blugolds 15-11 in the series' last meeting Sept. 2, 2006 in Collegeville.
Notes: Saint John's converted first downs on a third-and-27 and a second-and-25 in the game (which turned into a third-and-16)…SJU is now 6-1 all-time against Wis.-River Falls…the Johnnies are now 68-28-3 (.702) all-time in season openers, including a 31-12 record (.721) on the road…under the direction of head coach John Gagliardi, SJU is 44-12-1 (.781) with a 18-5 record (.783) away from Collegeville.
