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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Joel Sweeney scored from two yards out on the Blugolds' first possession of overtime to defeat No. 9 Saint John's 23-20 on Saturday, Sept. 11, in Eau Claire, Wis.

The 6-foot-1, 241-pound Sweeney carried the ball all seven plays of the possession. He entered the fourth quarter with just 24 yards on 13 carries, but ended the game with 90 yards on 25 attempts and two touchdowns.

Following a three-and-out to start the game, SJU orchestrated a 17-play, 73-yard drive that ate up 8:48, but ended on the Blugolds' seven-yard line due to a fumble.

Three plays later, UWEC gave the ball back to SJU courtesy a fumble at its own 17-yard line.

The ensuing drive stalled, however, but sophomore #Jimmie Mattson# (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) gave SJU a 3-0 lead with a 28-yard field goal 49 seconds into the second quarter.

On its next drive, UWEC converted a fourth-and-two on SJU's 27, but squandered the next set of downs. Brandon Raciborski missed a 34-yard field goal to preserve the Johnnies' 3-0 lead.

Senior #Joe Boyle# (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) capped a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive with a six-yard touchdown run to give SJU a 10-0 lead with 2:23 left in the first half.

Raciborski made good on a 38-yard with four seconds remaining in the half, ending a 10-play, 55-yard drive.

Both teams exchanged three punts in a scoreless third quarter. Halfway thru the fourth quarter, on third-and-five from their own 12, Austin Neu connected with Jesse Linsmeyer for an 80-yard reception down to the Johnnies' eight-yard line. Sophomore #Ian Goldsmith# (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View), however, intercepted a pass on the three-yard line the very next play. The Johnnies went three-and-out, however, and were forced to punt. Four plays later, Matt Olson tied the game at 10-10 with a seven-yard run at the 4:52 mark of the fourth quarter.

Following an SJU three-and-out, Sweeney gave UWEC a 17-10 lead, its first of the game, on a six-yard run with 2:04 left. He carried the ball all three plays for 43 yards on the drive. Both Blugold touchdown drives began inside the Johnnies' 43-yard line.

The Johnnies were not done, however. Boyle led SJU on a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive that ended on his own one-yard plunge with six seconds left. Boyle was six of seven passing for 57 yards on the drive, which consumed 1:53.

Mattson nailed a 40-yard field goal to give SJU a 20-17 lead on its first possession of overtime before Sweeney scored the game-winner.

Boyle ended the night 14 of 26 passing for 138 yards. Sophomore #Nick Schneider# (St. Cloud, Minn./Rocori) led SJU's ground game with 56 yards on 10 carries, while senior #Josh Overman# (Albany, Minn.) caught five passes for 63 yards. Goldsmith led SJU with nine tackles (eight solo), while junior #Evan Cobb# (Becker, Minn.) added seven stops, all solo, including four tackles for loss. Senior All-American #Kyle Schroeder# (Richmond, Minn./Rocori) tallied six tackles (four solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. 

SJU was penalized eight times for a total of 71 yards, while the Blugolds recorded one penalty for 15 yards, which occurred on the Johnnies' game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter.

The Johnnies return home to host Concordia-Moorhead this Saturday, Sept. 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.

Notes: The overtime game was the second for SJU in its last three trips to Carson Park…the overtime loss was the first for SJU since Sept. 7, 2002, at Wis.-Eau Claire (28-21)…UWEC out-gained SJU 349-282, but the Johnnies held a 19-16 advantage in first downs and a 144-130 edge in rushing yards.