Box Score | Listen to Archived Game | Photos (Dawid Chabowski/Abby Roche)
Post-Game Interviews:
-Senior running back Jakob Reding (0:13)
-Junior wide receivers Brent Graboski and Sam Pederson (0:37)
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.- No. 21-ranked Saint John's compiled 536 yards of total offense as it defeated Concordia-Moorhead, 40-28 in the 2010 conference opener Saturday, Sept. 18, in Collegeville.
SJU (2-1, 1-0 MIAC) scored on its first possession via a 73-yard pass from senior quarterback Joe Boyle (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) to junior wide receiver Brent Graboski (Woodbury, Minn.) capping a two play, 87-yard drive. The touchdown reception was Graboski's first career reception and touchdown.
Sophomore Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) scored on a two-yard rush and sophomore Jimmie Mattson (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) kicked the extra point to give the Johnnies a 14-0 lead with 8:00 remaining in the first quarter. Saint John's forced a punt and got the ball back with 5:57 still remaining in the first, but Boyle threw an interception in the end-zone to end the drive.
Concordia (1-2, 0-1 MIAC) scored on its second play of the second quarter on a 23-yard rush from Trent Johnson, cutting the Johnnie lead to 14-7.
Graboski caught his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, on a 34-yard strike from sophomore running back Harry Awe (St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy). Mattson's extra point attempt was blocked, giving the Johnnies a 20-7 lead.
Concordia marched down the field scoring on the very next drive on a seven-yard pass from Michael Dunham to Zach Weller, to make the score 20-14.
SJU scored one final time before the half on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Boyle to senior tight end Josh Overman (Albany, Minn.), Mattson missed the extra point giving the Johnnies a 26-14 halftime lead.
Concordia began the third quarter by recovering an onside kick on the SJU 45. Following a five-yard delay-of-game penalty, junior linebacker Evan Cobb (Becker, Minn.) intercepted a pass giving the Johnnies the ball back at their own 41.
Freshman running back Nick Schneider (Rockville, Minn./Rocori) caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Boyle to capitalize on the Concordia turnover, after a successful extra point the Johnnies went ahead 33-14.
Concordia scored on the very next possession on an 11-play, 60-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown from Nic Johnson. The drive consumed 5:21 and cut the deficit to 33-21. Concordia scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dunham to Weller, making it a one possession game, 33-28.
Senior running back Jakob Reding (Eden Prairie, Minn.) score on the very next drive from four yards out to give the Johnnies a 40-28 lead. The four-yard rush ended a drive that consisted of nine consecutive running plays for 66 yards.
After a failed fourth-down attempt by Concordia, SJU was forced to punt in the very next series. Concordia took over on its own 20-yard line with only 1:21 remaining in the game. The Johnnie defense held its ground and forced a turnover on downs.
SJU threw for 367 yards behind the arm of Boyle, who threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns while completing 16 of 23 passes. Awe was 2-for-2 passing for 92 yards and a touchdown on a pair of halfback option plays.
Graboski made his first two career receptions for touchdowns, finishing with three receptions for 116 yards, while junior wide receiver Sam Pederson (La Crosse, Wis/Aquinas) added four catches for 101 yards.
Defensive back Mike Bonynge (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) had eight tackles (six solo) to lead the Johnnies' defense.
Dunham threw for 305 yards on 32 of 51 passing and two touchdowns, both to receiver Zach Welle, to lead the Cobbers. Brent Rysdahl intercepted one pass and collected four tackles (three solo), while Connor Buttenhoff recorded eight tackles (seven solo) to lead Concordia defensively.
SJU travels to face Augsburg next Saturday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis, Minn.
