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COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Wisconsin-Eau Claire jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead en route to a 47-19 win over No. 25 Saint John's on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Collegeville.

The Blugolds (1-1, 0-0 WIAC) scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions, a combined 220 yards on 17 plays (12.9 avg.).

The Johnnies started the game with a 10-play, 50-yard drive that stalled on the Blugolds' 20-yard line (turnover on downs). Six plays later, UWEC's Matt Olson tip-toed the sideline for a 22-yard touchdown run with 7:47 left in the first quarter. Olson gained 108 yards on 22 carries in the game.

SJU (1-1, 0-0 MIAC) moved the ball 28 yards on the ensuing possession to UWEC's 37-yard line before stalling again. A nine-yard punt gave the Blugolds a first-and-10 from their own 28. On third-and-18, UWEC quarterback Austin Neu avenged his fumble on first down and scrambled for a 31-yard gain. He then connected with David Goodman for a 47-yard gain two plays later down to the SJU two-yard line. Neu hit Austin Goetsch for an eight-yard touchdown on third-and-goal to make it 14-0 in favor of UWEC.

Following a three-and-out, UWEC marched 68 yards on three plays, ending on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Neu to Jesse Linsmeyer, increasing the lead to 21-0.

The Johnnies moved it to the 50-yard line before punting on their next drive and held UWEC to its first three-and-out. The resulting punt, however, was fumbled and recovered by the Blugolds at the SJU 26. Josh Albrecht made a 39-yard field goal four plays later to increase the visitor's lead to 24-0 with 8:02 left in the second quarter.

On its next drive, SJU turned the ball over on downs again, one yard shy of the first down at midfield. UWEC proceeded to milk the clock with an eight-play, 50-yard scoring drive that lasted 4:42. The drive ended with a six-yard touchdown run by Neu with 00:18 remaining in the first half.

Following a turnover by UWEC to open the second half, junior quarterback John Ries (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) directed a six-play, 61-yard scoring drive that ended with a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Sam Pederson (La Crosse, Wis./Aquinas).

The Blugolds answered with a score of their own, Neu's third touchdown toss of the game, good for 14 yards to Ryan Moertel with 6:30 left in the third quarter.

Ries took the reins again and put together a 64-yard scoring drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Nick Schneider (Rockville, Minn./Rocori).

Albrecht added his second field goal of the game, this time from 42 yards out, to make it 40-13 with 12:58 left in the fourth quarter.

Matt Jaskowiak ended the scoring for UWEC with a two-yard touchdown run, on fourth-and-goal, with 3:59 remaining.

Sophomore running back Colin Moynihan (Edina, Minn.) sprinted to a 29-yard touchdown run with 1:04 left in the game to end the scoring for good, 47-19.
Sophomore quarterback Connor Bruns (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) was six of 11 passing for 60 yards, while Ries went 10-for-14 with 117 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) led SJU with 49 yards on nine carries (5.4 avg.) and in receptions with five for 32 yards. Schneider posted 45 yards on nine attempts (5.0 avg.) and grabbed two passes for 28 yards, including his 18-yard touchdown. Freshman linebacker Andrew Rose (Stillwater, Minn.) led the Johnnie defense with 11 tackles (eight solo), while senior defensive back Andrew Rotschafer (Eden Prairie, Minn.) added nine tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble.

Neu ended his day 13 of 18 passing for 242 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 37 yards on seven carries. David Goodman recorded five catches for 101 yards.

UWEC out-gained the Johnnies 469-304, including a 227-127 margin on the ground, and held a 23-19 advantage in first downs. The Johnnies were three of nine on third down and failed to convert a first down on two fourth-down-and-short tries. UWEC, meanwhile, was eight of 13 on third down and converted its only fourth-down try, the two-yard touchdown run with 3:59 remaining.

SJU travels to face Concordia-Moorhead in the conference opener next Saturday, Sept. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Jake Christiansen Stadium in Moorhead.

Notes: The 31 points allowed in the first half are the most since Dec. 14, 2002 (Trinity of Texas led 34-13)…the 31-point losing differential at the half was the largest since Dec. 4, 1993 (Mount Union of Ohio led 43-0)…the 47 points are the third-most allowed at home in SJU history and the most since Sept. 20, 1986 (56-21 loss to St. Thomas)…the 47 points are the second-most at home under the direction of head coach John Gagliardi.