D3football.com Poll | AFCA Poll

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Saint John's University fell four spots to No. 8 in the latest D3football.com (Nov. 3) poll and eight slots to No. 12 in the American Football Coaches' Association (Nov. 4) rankings.

Eight teams in the West region, including SJU, were ranked in D3football.com's top 25: Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 3), Bethel (No. 9), Wartburg (No. 11), Chapman (No. 15), St. Thomas (No. 18), Redlands (No. 21) and Linfield (No. 23). Wisconsin-Platteville (51 points), Wisconsin-La Crosse (40), Whitworth (17) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh (13) received votes.

SJU generated 581 yards of offense but committed 5 turnovers in a 19-18 overtime loss to Concordia Nov. 2 in Collegeville. Sophomore running back Henry Trost (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) recorded his second 1-yard touchdown run of the game to give SJU an 18-12 lead following 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. 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.

The home team scored points on two of its six 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. 

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.

The Johnnies (7-1, 6-1 MIAC) close their conference schedule against Hamline (1-7, 0-6 MIAC) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in St. Paul. SJU can 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.