D3football.com Poll | AFCA Poll

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University football team stayed at No. 3 in the final D3football.com poll of the 2018 season released Dec. 16 and moved up one spot to No. 4 in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) rankings posted Monday, Dec. 17.

The Johnnies have finished in the polls' top 15 each of the past five seasons.

SJU (12-1, 8-0 MIAC) won its MIAC-record 33rd conference title and made its 29th postseason appearance (25th in Division III) this fall. The Johnnies advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, where they fell by a 21-18 score to the eventual national champion, Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas).

The Johnnies expect to return seven starters on each side of the ball, including the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy recipient and D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Jackson Erdmann (Rosemount, Minn.), and  two-time All-American guard Dan Greenheck (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) in 2019.

SJU ended the 2018 season ranked in the NCAA Division III's top 10 in nine statistical categories: first in team passing efficiency (186.59), third in both fumble recoveries (17) and takeaways (35), fourth in least tackles for loss allowed per game (3.69), fifth in scoring offense (47.5 ppg.), sixth in turnover margin (+1.38 tpg), seventh in first downs (295), ninth in scoring defense (11.1 ppg.) and 10th in total offense (491.8 ypg.). 

Individually, Erdmann led Division III in passing efficiency (189.8), passing touchdowns (47) and points responsible for (290). He also finished third in yards per pass attempt (10.03) and fourth in passing yards (3,450). Senior wide receiver Will Gillach (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) finished second in receiving yards (1,282) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (17).