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COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's took advantage of seven turnovers and held on for a 30-28 win over Augsburg as part of Family Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 12, in Collegeville.
The two teams combined for 774 yards of offense and 11 turnovers in the game.
Augsburg (3-2, 2-2 MIAC) jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the game's first nine minutes before the Johnnies scored 27 unanswered points to gain a 27-14 lead at halftime.
The Auggies marched down to the SJU nine-yard line on the game's first possession but quarterback Ayrton Scott fumbled on third-and-seven. Following an SJU three-and-out, Scott directed a seven-play, 50-yard scoring drive that ended on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Joey Sonnenfeld. Sonnenfeld finished with seven receptions for 131 yards.
SJU (5-1, 3-1 MIAC) fumbled on its third play of the ensuing drive and the Auggies' Jerise Washington ran for a 33-yard touchdown two plays later to give the visitors a 14-0 lead. Washington ended the afternoon with 130 yards on 24 carries, including a 21-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Desperately needing an answer, SJU responded with an eight-play, 69-yard scoring drive that ended on a 13-yard touchdown run from sophomore Sam Sura (South St. Paul, Minn.). A 14-yard pass play from senior Connor Bruns (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) to sophomore Josh Bungum (Paynesville, Minn.) on fourth-and-11 extended the drive.
Two of the game's 11 turnovers occurred on one play on the next drive. Junior Matt Workman (Minneapolis, Minn./Holy Angels) intercepted Scott on second-and-20 from the Augsburg 26 but fumbled the ball back to the Auggies. The turnover bug struck again, four plays later, when freshman Carter Hanson (Blue Earth, Minn.) popped the ball loose on a five-yard gain.
The Johnnies chipped away down to a third-and-goal situation where Bruns connected on a fade to senior Brandon Schaust (Lester Prairie, Minn./Lester Prairie-Holy Trinity) to tie the game at 14-14. The catch was the first of Schaust's collegiate career.
Junior Ben Rossini (Rosemount, Minn.) dropped Washington for a three-yard loss on fourth-and-five from the Johnnies' 34-yard line on the next possession and freshman Jakob Certeza (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) gave SJU the lead on a 28-yard touchdown scamper with 3:04 left. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 20-14.
Senior Darryl Williams' (Hawthorne, Calif./Verbum Dei) interception of Scott, and return to the Augsburg 25, led to a two-yard touchdown run from Sura with 25 seconds remaining in the half. Sura led SJU with 86 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter due to injury.
The second half started with turnovers on the first three possessions before Washington's 21-yard touchdown run cut the Johnnies' lead to 27-21 with 7:45 left in the third quarter.
Each team punted twice before freshman Alexi Johnson (Shakopee, Minn.) extended SJU's lead to 30-21 on a 34-yard field with 9:13 left in the fourth quarter.
Scott led the Auggies down to the SJU one-yard line on the ensuing drive, but fumbled on third-and goal. He then directed a nine-play, 94-yard scoring drive to cut the Johnnies' lead to 30-28. A false start penalty eventually padded the Auggies' stats as Scott was eight of eight passing for 98 yards on the drive.
SJU, however, recovered the onside kick and ran out the remaining 1:18 to earn the win.
Bruns finished 13 of 26 passing for 148 yards. Bungum was held to season lows in both receptions (5) and receiving yards (47), while junior Rob Voshell (Sartell, Minn.) added three catches for 55 yards. Certeza complemented Sura with 54 yards on 17 carries. Hanson led the Johnnie defense with 11 tackles and a forced fumble. Freshman Griffin Toomey (Anchorage, Alaska/South) averaged 40.2 yards on five punts, three of which were downed inside the Auggies' 11 yard-line (six-, eight- and 11-yard lines).
Nursing a hamstring injury, Scott entered the game averaging 126 rushing yards per game but was held to zero yards on five attempts in the game. He finished 23 of 34 passing for 304 yards, 98 of which came on the final drive, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
SJU makes its second trip to Northfield in a span of 14 days next Saturday, Oct. 19, at Carleton. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Laird Stadium.
Notes: SJU is now 64-9-2 all-time against Augsburg, including a 32-5 record in Collegeville…the Johnnies have now forced 20 turnovers in six games this season…opponents committed only 21 turnovers in 10 games last year…the seven turnovers is the most by an opponent since Hamline committed seven in the 61-0 SJU victory on Nov. 12, 2011, in St. Paul…the mark is the most by an opponent, in Collegeville, since Augsburg committed seven in the 63-9 SJU win on Oct. 18, 2003…that game in 2003 was also during Family Weekend…the Johnnies' 2003 national championship team was honored during halftime today…SJU now has a 588-238-24 all-time record (.706) in 850 games.
