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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Augsburg answered a 10-7 deficit with 41 straight points en route to a 48-17 win over Saint John's on Saturday, Oct. 6, in Minneapolis.

The back-to-back losses to Augsburg are the first for SJU (2-4, 0-4 MIAC) in the series since 1928-29. The Johnnies' current four-game losing streak is their first since the 1930 season, while the 0-4 start to the conference schedule is the first since 1929.

The Auggies (4-1, 3-1 MIAC) rolled 66 yards on their opening drive, but quarterback Ayrton Scott was intercepted by senior safety Kevin Wenner (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) in the end zone on first-and-10 from the SJU 22. Wenner had just entered the game for senior Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins), the team's starting free safety and big-play receiver (11 catches for 284 yards and three touchdowns), who left the game with a foot injury and did not return.

The Johnnies took advantage of a blocked punt by senior linebacker James Obler (Marshall, Minn.) and found the scoreboard first with a six-yard touchdown run from freshman quarterback Nick Martin (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) three plays later with 4:14 left in the opening quarter.

Augsburg answered quickly to tie the game with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended on a 30-yard pass from Scott to Wesley Waytashek.

SJU cruised down to the Augsburg 29-yard line, but had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by senior Jimmie Mattson (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) into the wind, giving the Johnnies a 10-7 lead at the 12:32 mark of the second quarter.

The Auggies put together a 12-play, 58-yard scoring drive to gain its first lead of the game with a two-yard pass from Scott to Waylon Hartwick. Augsburg converted a third-and-14 and a fourth-and-four on the drive.

The Johnnies chewed up 47 yards on the ensuing drive, but senior running back Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) fumbled the ball fighting for the first down on third-and-15 from the Auggies' 36.

On third-and-four from the Augsburg 32, freshman Trevor Warner (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) intercepted Scott and returned it down to the Auggies' 14. The interception was the second of the season for Warner, who made his first career start at cornerback. The Johnnies, however, only gained two yards on three plays and Mattson's 30-yard field goal attempt went wide left.

Augsburg took advantage of the momentum swing and went 80 yards on six plays in 56 seconds, ending on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Scott to Adam Carl to increase its lead to 21-10 with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

The Auggies opened the second half going 43 yards on four plays, but senior linebacker Taylor Dammermann (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) knocked the ball loose from Scott and classmate John Gans (Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) recovered it on the SJU 32. The Johnnies however, lost a net of one yard on three plays and were forced to punt.

On third-and-12 from the SJU 25, Carl took the reverse pitch and scored to increase the lead to 28-10 with 6:59 left in the third quarter.

Both teams exchanged punts before Martin was intercepted on first down. The Auggies rolled 60 yards on nine plays, ending on a five-yard run by Jerise Washington. Senior tight end Wade Powers (Hawick, Minn./New London-Spicer) blocked the PAT attempt to make it 34-10 with 13:48 left.

The Johnnies had the ball for only 3:52 and gained three yards on seven plays in the third quarter.

Following another three-and-out, a bad snap from center on the punt gave Augsburg the ball on the Johnnies' 23. Scott hit Tyler Swanson for a 23-yard touchdown on the next play to give the Auggies a 41-10 lead.

SJU gained 18 yards on the next drive before a fumble gave the ball back to Augsburg on the SJU 46. Washington took it over from four yards out seven plays after that.

Martin brought the Auggies' streak of 41 unanswered points to a halt by directing an eight-play, 52-yard drive that ended on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Powers with 4:08 remaining to end the scoring for both teams.

Martin finished 10 of 19 passing for 110 yards and added 16 yards on nine carries. He also averaged 42.6 yards on four punts. Johnson became the ninth Johnnie in school history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau with 49 yards on 14 carries. He is now ninth all-time with 2,023 career rushing yards, 69 yards behind Brad Eustice (1972-76) for eighth. Johnson also led SJU's receiving game with 48 yards on four catches. Dammermann and Wenner led the Johnnies with nine tackles apiece.

Augsburg out-gained the Johnnies 587-238 in the game, averaging 7.6 yards per play, and executed nine plays of 20 yards or more. Scott accounted for 402 of the Auggies' total, throwing for 259 yards (18 of 27) and four touchdowns while rushing for 143 yards on 25 carries. Washington followed with 140 yards on 19 carries (7.4 avg.). Carl finished with 75 yards on six catches and Washington added 74 yards on five grabs.

SJU plays host to Carleton for a 1 p.m. kickoff next Saturday, Oct. 13, at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.

Notes: The Johnnies wore red pants in the game for the first time since the early 1950's…the 31-point deficit is more than the last four losses to the Auggies combined (30 points combined in the 1973, 1980, 1997 and 2011 losses)…Augsburg ended the game eight yards shy of SJU's opponent record of 595 yards allowed (on 84 plays) in the 45-17 loss at Gustavus Adolphus, 33 years to the date, on Oct. 6, 1979…SJU gained a total of 13 yards (on 22 plays) during seven consecutive offensive possessions from the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the fourth...the loss was John Gagliardi's sixth in 60 meetings with the Auggies (53-6-1 record).