Box Score

BELTON, Texas – No. 3 Saint John's football ended its 2018 season with a 21-18 loss to No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals on Saturday, Dec. 1, in Belton, Texas.

The Johnnies (12-1, 8-0 MIAC) out-gained the Crusaders (13-0, 9-0 ASC) 465-315, including 418 yards through the air. UMHB entered the game leading NCAA Division III in scoring offense (60.4 ppg.), scoring defense (6.6 ppg.) and total defense (188.7 ypg.), and had allowed four passing touchdowns in the season's first 12 games.

SJU, however, either turned the ball over on downs or committed a turnover seven times on UMHB's side of the 50-yard line. The Johnnies scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and reached the Crusaders' 25-yard line on four possessions in the game's final five minutes, but only scored points on one of the trips.



Junior quarterback Jackson Erdmann (Rosemount, Minn.) ended the day 28 of 48 passing for 418 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He set a single-season record for passing touchdowns (47) and fell 39 passing yards short of Tom Linnemann's school record of 3,489 set in 2000 (15 games).

Three different Johnnies recorded over 100 receiving yards in the loss. Senior running back Adam Essler (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) caught 11 passes for 121 yards and added 29 yards on seven carries. 

Senior wide receiver Will Gillach (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) caught eight passes for 150 yards and two second-half touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Joey Eckhoff (Northfield, Minn.) posted his first 100-yard receiving game with 101 yards on four catches.

The Johnnies made things interesting late in the fourth quarter, down 21-11. SJU took over on its own 44-yard line with 3:17 remaining and rolled 52 yards on two plays to the 4-yard line, but Erdmann's slant pass was deflected and intercepted at the 2.

SJU forced a three-and-out, its sixth of the game, and junior safety Ryan LaCasse (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) blocked the ensuing punt. Erdmann hit Gillach for a six-yard touchdown on the next play to cut the Johnnies' deficit to three (21-18) with 1:49 left. 

Sophomore Austin Solors (Elk River, Minn.) recovered his own onside kick and Erdmann connected with Essler for a 27-yard gain to the UMHB 25-yard line on the first play. Erdmann's pass to Gillach on the next snap, however, was intercepted in the end zone.

The Cru found the scoreboard first on a 41-yard touchdown pass, on third-and-two, from Jase Hammack to K.J. Miller with 10:01 left in the first quarter.

Senior kicker Zach Barwick (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) put SJU on the board with a 30-yard field goal with 12:01 left in the second quarter.

Markeith Miller padded the Crusaders' lead with a 3-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation with 6:25 left in the third quarter.

Gillach caught his first touchdown of the game, from 30 yards out, with 14:24 remaining. Barwick was roughed on his PAT attempt, so SJU decided to go for two from the 1-yard line and Erdmann scored on the keeper to cut the deficit to 14-11.

UMHB answered however, four plays later with a 51-yard touchdown pass.

Senior defensive end Ted Kalina (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) led SJU with nine tackles (seven solo), including three for a loss and one sack. His counterpart, senior defensive end Nathan Brinker (Avon, Minn./Holdingford) added two sacks. The duo combined for 37 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks this fall.