Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 4 Saint John's football rolled to 581 yards of offense but committed 5 turnovers in a 19-18 overtime loss to Concordia on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Collegeville. 

Sophomore running back Henry Trost (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) banged in from 1 yard out to give SJU (7-1, 6-1 MIAC) an 18-12 lead to cap the first possession of overtime. The Johnnies converted the 2-point attempt, but were called for an illegal-man-downfield penalty. The ensuing extra-point attempt was blocked for the third time of the game. 

On fourth-and-nine, the Cobbers' Matt Bye made an acrobatic, 24-yard catch for what proved to be the game-winning score on Concordia's possession in OT. SJU deflected the pass, which was the Cobbers' third completion of the game, Bye juggled it and caught it on his back in the end zone.

Not So "Special" Teams
The Johnnies struggled to execute on special teams in the loss. Concordia (3-5, 3-3 MIAC) returned the opening kickoff 78 yards to the SJU 16-yard line, but missed a 25-yard field goal four plays later. A muffed punt return gave the Cobbers the ball on SJU's 9-yard line early in the second quarter. CC punched it in two plays later to gain a 7-6 lead. 

The Cobbers' second PAT block was returned by Marshall King for two points to tie the game at 12-12 early in the third quarter. 

Red-Zone Inefficiency
SJU scored points on 2 of its 6 trips to the red zone and was 2-for-6 on fourth down. Three of the four empty drives ended inside the Cobbers' 9-yard line: an interception in the end zone from the 8-yard line, turnover on downs on the 9-yard line and an interception on fourth down from the 7-yard line. The Johnnies scored points on 25 of their 35 red-zone trips and went 8-for-16 on fourth down in their previous seven games.

Defensive Stops
SJU held Concordia to 249 yards of offense, including 81 yards after halftime (one first down and 51 yards of offense, combined, in the third and fourth quarters). The Cobbers had seven possessions after halftime in regulation, six of which were punts (five were three-and-outs). The other possession was a kneel-down to send the game to overtime. 

Unusual Day for Erdmann
Senior quarterback Jackson Erdmann (Rosemount, Minn.) threw a career-high four interceptions in the loss. He finished 22 of 42 for 356 yards, which tied him with Alex Kofoed (2004-07) for the most 300-yard passing games in program history (10). Erdmann also passed Kurt Ramler (1993-96) for second in career pass attempts (960) and extended his consecutive-game streak with a passing touchdown to 35.

Big Plays
Erdmann connected with senior tight end Jack Kemper (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) for a 70-yard touchdown pass on the game's fourth offensive play of the second half to give SJU a 12-10 lead. The blocked-PAT return, however, tied the game soon after.

Sophomore wide receiver Ravi Alston (Lake Elsinore, Calif./Vista Murrieta) caught a 79-yard pass down to the CC 9-yard line on the next possession, but Erdmann was intercepted four plays later on fourth-and-goal. Alston finished with a team-leading 112 yards on four receptions.

Two TD's for Trost
Trost churned out 110 yards, his second 100-yard rushing game, and two touchdowns on 12 carries (9.2 avg.) in the loss. He gave SJU a 6-0 lead with the first of his two 1-yard rushing scores with 3:29 left in the opening quarter.

Home Win Streak Ends
Saturday's loss snapped SJU's 20-game home win streak and served as its first defeat at Clemens Stadium since 2016 (33-21 to St. Thomas on Sept. 24). 

OT Trouble
SJU is now 4-5 all-time in overtime games (1-2 in Clemens Stadium). The Johnnies' last overtime game was, eerily, on this date six years ago (Nov. 2, 2013): a 23-20 loss in double overtime at Gustavus Adolphus. The last overtime game in Collegeville occurred Oct. 2, 2010 (a 27-26 loss to St. Thomas after SJU's PAT in overtime hit the upright). 

Next Week
The Johnnies wrap up conference play with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Hamline (1-7, 0-6 MIAC) next Saturday, Nov. 9, in St. Paul.

Still One Win for Conference Title, NCAA Berth
SJU can still clinch a share of its MIAC-record 34th conference championship, and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, with a win at Hamline.