Box Score | Listen to Archived Game
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Saint John's scored 21 consecutive points en route to a 28-14 lead, endured a 46-minute lightning delay late in the fourth quarter and defeated Wisconsin-Eau Claire 31-28 on Saturday, Sept. 8, in Eau Claire, Wis.
The Johnnies (2-0, 0-0 MIAC) return home to host No. 7 St. Thomas (2-0, 0-0 MIAC) for the MIAC opener next Saturday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.
Eau Claire (0-2, 0-0 WIAC) took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards on eight plays, ending on a 22-yard touchdown run by Joel Sweeney.
Both teams exchanged punts before SJU took over on its own 20-yard line with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter. On first-and-25, due to an offensive pass interference penalty, junior Connor Bruns (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) connected with senior Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins), the Johnnies' starting cornerback, for a 42-yard gain down to the Blugolds' 25. Bruns gained 10 yards with his legs on third-and-six and a defensive pass interference penalty gave SJU a first down at the two-yard line. Senior Stephen Johnson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) took it over the goal line on the next play to tie the game at 7-7.
UWEC answered with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended, once again, with a touchdown from Sweeney, this time from three yards out. Sweeney rushed for 128 yards on 17 carries in the first half alone.
Another big play by Forster on the ensuing drive, a one-handed grab in addition to defensive pass interference on fourth-and-six, gave SJU a first-and-goal at the seven with less than two minutes left in the first half. Bruns found sophomore Rob Voshell (Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) for a four-yard touchdown pass three plays later to tie the game at 14-14. The touchdown was the first of Voshell's collegiate career. Bruns ended the first half eight of nine passing for 111 yards and a touchdown, with another 33 yards on five carries.
Each team punted on its first possession of the second half before SJU took over on its own 41 thanks to a 12-yard punt. The big play aided the Johnnies once again as Bruns hit Voshell for a 56-yard gain on third-and-11 down to the Blugolds' four-yard line. Senior Harry Awe (St. Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) scored from one yard out two plays later to give SJU its first lead of the game, 21-14, with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
The SJU defense forced its first three-and-out of the afternoon on the ensuing drive and started on the Blugolds' own 46. Bruns completed a 36-yard pass to freshman Josh Bungum (Paynesville, Minn.) on first down and found Forster for a 13-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to extend the Johnnies' lead to 28-14.
Special teams, however, flipped the field-position advantage in favor of UWEC and brought the Blugolds back in the game early in the fourth quarter. UWEC senior quarterback, and punter, Austin Neu pooched a perfect 42-yard punt inside the Johnnies' own one-yard line. Pinned deep in their own end, the Johnnies inched out to the seven-yard line but a 20-yard punt gave the ball back to the Blugolds on the SJU 27. Sweeney scored his third touchdown three plays later, from 10 yards out. He finished with 182 yards on 28 carries.
SJU ate up nine minutes of clock on 16 plays to set up a fourth-and-two from the UWEC 11 before lightning brought the game to a halt. Forty-six minutes later, senior Jimmie Mattson (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) cut the blustery crosswind with a 28-yard field goal to make it a two-score game.
The Johnnies' prevent defense, however, failed to prevent anything as the Blugolds cruised 73 yards in eight plays, ending on a 10-yard pass from Neu to Cody Gerver . Neu ended the afternoon 13 of 24 passing for 166 yards, with another 35 yards on seven carries.
Senior Taylor Freetly (Kerkhoven, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) recovered the ensuing onside kick and Bruns knelt twice to run out the clock and end the game.
Bruns ended the day 16 of 22 passing for 251 yards and two scores. He also added 43 yards on six carries. Bruns' 16 completions were split between four receivers. Voshell caught five passes for 78 yards, while Bungum and Freetly each grabbed four passes for 56 and 30 yards, respectively. Forster's day ended with 87 yards and a touchdown on three passes. He also tallied three solo tackles from the defensive secondary.
Johnson led the Johnnies' ground game with 53 yards on 19 carries. Senior Taylor Dammermann (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer), meanwhile led the defense with 10 tackles, including two for a loss. Junior Dylan Graves (Mora, Minn.) added nine stops.
The Johnnies were nine of 16 on third down and turned both fourth-down plays into first downs. The visitors also scored points on all five trips to the red zone.
With the win, SJU head coach John Gagliardi improves to 486-133-11 (.780) in 64 seasons overall and 462-127-10 (.780) in 60 seasons at SJU.
Notes: SJU now boasts a 54.8 percent (17/31) conversion rate on third down through the season's first two games…the Johnnies have also scored points (10 touchdowns, one field goal) on all 11 trips to the red zone…the victory was the first for SJU since Sept. 3, 2005 (35-28)…the start of that game was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning.
