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ST. PETER, Minn. – Gustavus Adolphus' Thomas Schleusener kicked a game-winning 37-yard field goal in the second overtime to give the Gusties a 23-20 win over Saint John's on Saturday, Nov. 2, in St. Peter.
The win is the first for Gustavus (5-3, 3-3 MIAC) over SJU since 1997 and the first in St. Peter since 1986.
Schleusener missed a 32-yard attempt wide right at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
The Johnnies held Gustavus to a 28-yard field goal on the first overtime possession and advanced to a second-and-three situation from the eight-yard line, needing a touchdown for the win, but settled for a game-tying 24-yard field goal from freshman Alexi Johnson (Shakopee, Minn.).
SJU started the second overtime on offense but it only gained five on three plays and Johnson's attempt from 37 yards out was short, giving GAC the ball and the opportunity to win.
In total, SJU (6-2, 4-2 MIAC) turned the ball over on downs twice in GAC territory (inside the 39-yard line), threw an interception in the end zone and was held to a second-quarter field goal following a first-and-goal opportunity from the GAC two-yard line in the game.
Following an interception by sophomore linebacker Drake Matuska (Kasson, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville), the Johnnies went 45 yards on seven plays, ending on a three-yard plunge from sophomore quarterback Nick Martin (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) with 9:09 left in the first quarter.
A pass interference call on third-and-goal from the Gustavus four-yard line gave SJU three plays inside the Gusties' two, but it could not score and instead had to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Johnson on the first play of the second quarter to gain a 10-0 lead.
The Johnnies went for it on fourth-and-three from the GAC 37, but Martin's downfield pass fell incomplete. The turnover on downs sparked the Gusties, who found the scoreboard with a six-play, 63-yard scoring drive. A 46-yard pass from GAC quarterback Mitch Hendricks, a sophomore transfer from SJU, to George Buchner set up an eight-yard touchdown run from Jeffrey Dubose with 2:38 left in the second quarter.
Junior linebacker Andrew Rose (Stillwater, Minn.) intercepted Hendricks on the opening possession of the second half and returned it 24 yards to the GAC 17. Freshman running back Jakob Certeza (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak) took it over from four yards out three plays later to give SJU a 17-7 lead with 11:47 left in the third quarter.
A two-yard touchdown run from Dubose cut SJU's lead to 17-14 with 8:46 left in the third. The play capped a seven-play, 45-yard scoring drive after Matt Boyce returned the kickoff 43 yards to the SJU 45.
Schleusener tied the game at 17-17 with a 39-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter.
SJU converted on fourth-and-nine from the GAC 29, but the Gusties intercepted Martin in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 13.
Gustavus forced two three-and-outs advanced 35 yards down to the SJU 15 before Schleusener's 32-yard attempt went wide right with three seconds remaining in regulation.
The Johnnies out-gained GAC 308-250 in the game, including a 178-86 advantage in the first half, but converted only two of their 14 third-down chances.
Martin ended the day 12 of 25 passing for 110 yards and two interceptions. He led the SJU ground game with a career-high 93 yards rushing on 16 carries, 12 attempts for 74 yards in the first half alone, while Certeza totaled 72 yards on 21 carries before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter due to injury.
Freshman linebacker Carter Hanson (Blue Earth, Minn.) led SJU with 12 tackles (eight solo), including a tackle for a loss, while junior defensive end Matt Workman (Minneapolis, Minn./Holy Angels) posted nine tackles (six solo), three tackles for a loss and a quarterback sack.
Hendricks finished 17 of 31 passing for 141 yards and the two interceptions. He was a combined six of eight passing for 41 yards in the fourth quarter and two overtimes. Dubose, who entered the contest averaging 132.6 rushing yards per game, was held to 69 yards on 22 carries, including only 10 yards on seven attempts in the first half.
The Johnnies play host to Hamline for its first home game since Oct. 12 next Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.
Notes: SJU lost five starters to injury throughout the game: Certeza, Matuska, senior tackle Jack Hedlund (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech), junior tackle Alex Jarosz (White Bear Lake, Minn./Totino-Grace) and senior safety Nolan Lortz (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech)…the Johnnies are now 4-4 all-time in overtime games…the contest was the first of the eight to reach the second overtime.
