Box Score

Post-Game Interviews:
-Hanson, Martin, Sura & Fasching (1:04)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 18 Saint John's forced five turnovers, including three in the first half, and snapped Bethel's 15-game conference win streak with a 31-8 victory on Saturday, Nov. 8, in Collegeville. 

No. 10/12 Bethel (7-2, 6-1 MIAC) committed 10 turnovers in its eight previous games this season, and was held to a 2-for-11 showing on third down and 0-for-4 on fourth down in the game, including a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line in the first quarter.

Junior running back Sam Sura (South St. Paul, Minn.) ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 40 bruising carries to lead the Johnnies. He now has 1,469 rushing yards and needs seven yards in the regular-season finale at St. Olaf next Saturday, Nov. 15, to break the school's single-season rushing record set by Tim Schmitz in 1976. 

The Johnnies can earn a share of its first MIAC title, and first NCAA Playoff berth, since 2009 with a win at St. Olaf. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Manitou Field in Northfield.

A week after going 1-for-6 passing in the 24-7 win at Augsburg, junior quarterback Nick Martin (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) ended the day 10 of 18 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns. 

After SJU (8-1, 6-1 MIAC) denied Bethel on two plays from the one-yard line, Martin directed an eight-play, 98-yard scoring drive that ended on an eight-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end J.T. Ford (Stevens Point, Wis.) on the final play of the first quarter. Martin hit sophomore wide receiver Evan Clark (Phoenix, Ariz./Apollo) for a 53-yard gain on the previous play.

Junior linebacker Drake Matuska (Kasson, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville) deflected a pass from Bethel quarterback Erik Peterson directly to senior defensive tackle Ben Rossini (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount) late in the second quarter. Martin hit sophomore wide receiver Dan Harrington (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland) for a 10-yard touchdown pass five plays later to give SJU a 14-0 lead with 20 seconds left in the half.

A 48-yard kick return from Clark gave SJU great field position to open the second half. The Johnnies pounded 10 consecutive running plays, ending on a three-yard touchdown by Sura on fourth-and-one to gain a 21-0 lead.

An interception from junior safety Randy Perez (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta), his 21-yard return and a 15-yard personal foul gave the Johnnies another great opportunity. SJU continued to milk the clock, but stalled on the eight-yard line where sophomore kicker Alexi Johnson (Shakopee, Minn.) knocked it through the uprights form 24 yards out.

BU answered with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Peterson to Bryce Marquardt on the ensuing drive. The two-point conversion cut the Johnnies' lead to 24-8 with 11:31 remaining in the game.

The Royals forced a three-and-out, but the Johnnie defense held on another fourth down. Martin connected with junior wide receiver Josh Bungum (Paynesville, Minn.) for a 49-yard gain on third-and-five and Sura took it over from one yard out two plays later to end the scoring.

Senior cornerback Andrew Norri (Virginia, Minn.) led SJU with seven solo tackles, while sophomore linebacker Carter Hanson (Blue Earth, Minn.) added five tackles (two solo), including 1.5 tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery.

Peterson, the reigning MIAC Most Valuable Player, was 20 of 37 passing for 229 yards, but threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. The Royals' other fumble was on an option pitch from Peterson. 

Notes: The Johnnies are now +17 in turnovers this fall…SJU was a combined +3 in turnovers the past three seasons (2013: +3; 2012: -2; 2011: +2)…the Johnnies' past two opponents (Augsburg and Bethel) were a combined 4-for-25 (16.0 percent) on third down…Sura's 40 carries tied him for second-most in SJU history with Mike Zumwinkle (at Macalester on Nov. 2, 1984)…Mike Patnode holds the record with 44 (at Carleton on Sept. 29, 2007)…the win snapped a four-game losing skid to Bethel…SJU entered the game second in NCAA Division III in red-zone defense and sixth nationally in red-zone offense…the Johnnies were 5-for-5 in the red zone Saturday and denied Bethel on two trips.