Box Score

Post-Game Interviews:
-Matuska & Sura (0:35)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's ran for 309 yards and held the ball for a school-record 44:10 in a 27-8 win over Wisconsin-River Falls in the season opener for both teams in front of an announced crowd of 8,863 on Saturday, Sept. 6, in Collegeville.

SJU forced three turnovers and junior running back Sam Sura (South St. Paul, Minn.) ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries to build a 24-0 lead at the break. Sura finished with a career-high 168 yards and the three scores on 28 carries (6.0 avg.) and also caught three passes for 25 yards.

On third-and-15, Sura broke an option play for a 39-yard touchdown run 4: 47 into the game. He added a one-yard plunge later in the first quarter, following an interception from sophomore safety Lucas Glomb (Woodbury, Minn./Hill-Murray), and scored from seven yards out with 24 seconds left in the first half.

Sophomore kicker Alexi Johnson (Shakopee, Minn.) made it 17-0 with a 35-yard field goal prior to Sura's third rushing touchdown in the second quarter, and knocked one through from 26 yards out with 12 seconds left in the third quarter. 

Over half (135 of 246) of River Falls' 246 yards of total offense in the game came on two pass plays in the fourth quarter, one of which was an 88-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Kusilek to 6-foot-8 Charles Dixon with 11:47 remaining. On third-and-nine, Kusilek avoided a sack, scrambled and heaved a wobbly pass to Dixon. The Johnnies' defensive back slipped to the turf and Dixon was able to scamper untouched to the end zone.

Fueled by 309 rushing yards, SJU set a new time-of-possession record with 44:10 in the game. The Johnnies totaled 25 first downs to the Falcons' six, and were 12 of 21 on third down. 

A cornerback in 2013, sophomore running back Antoine Taylor (Sherman Oaks, Calif./North Hollywood) gained 68 yards on 13 carries in his first SJU appearance at tailback. Classmate Zack Sundly (Harris, Minn./North Branch) added 33 yards on seven attempts and grabbed three passes for 24 yards.

Junior quarterback Nick Martin (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) was 11 of 17 passing for 72 yards. He also ran for 23 yards on 10 carries.

Junior linebacker Drake Matuska (Kasson, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville) led SJU with eight tackles (three solo). Senior defensive lineman Ryan Michaelis (Monticello, Minn.) added a sack and a fumble recovery, while a pair of Californians, junior cornerback Trevor Warner (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) and sophomore safety Garrett Ackerman (Temecula, Calif./Great Oak), added an interception each.

Kusilek was three of 12 passing for 99 yards and three interceptions. Rance Ashley pounded for 32 yards on five carries out of the wishbone formation.

The Johnnies travel to face Wisconsin-Eau Claire for a 6 p.m. kickoff next Saturday, Sept. 13, at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wis.

Notes: SJU's previous time-of-possession record for a game was set last fall at St. Olaf (39:06)…the team's time-of-possession records go back to the 1980 season (first reported in stats)…the Johnnies are now 8-1 all-time against River Falls and 73-28-3 (.716) in the season opener, including a 41-16-3 record (.708) in Collegeville…Martin needs five rushing yards next Saturday to pass Paul Schmit (1972-73) for fourth on SJU's rushing list by a quarterback.