AFCA Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University was ranked No. 5 for the eighth consecutive week in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll released Monday, Nov. 8.  
 
Seven teams in NCAA Region 6 (MIAC, NWC, SCIAC, UMAC, WIAC) were ranked in the top 25, including three in the top 10: Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 3), SJU (No. 5), Linfield (No. 6), Bethel (No. 12), Wisconsin-La Crosse (No. 16), Wisconsin-Oshkosh (No. 20) and Redlands (No. 25). Three others (Wisconsin-River Falls, Whitworth and Gustavus Adolphus) received votes.

SJU built a 28-0 lead and out-gained Carleton by a 406-224 margin in a 38-10 road win Nov. 6. The Johnnies committed three turnovers, but went 5-for-5 in the red zone and held the Knights to 2-for-11 on third down (1-for-4 on fourth down).

Senior wide receiver Ravi Alston (Lake Elsinore, Calif./Vista Murrieta) led the Johnnies' air attack with nine catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns, and was named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the performance. He had seven catches for 117 yards in the first quarter alone, including a 63-yard touchdown on the first play of SJU's second drive. Alston's second touchdown reception of the game, a 2-yard shovel pass, gave SJU a 35-3 lead with 7:02 left in the third quarter.

Senior running back Henry Trost (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) increased his rushing-touchdown total to 15 with two scores and 61 yards on 16 carries. 

The Johnnies (9-0, 7-0 MIAC, 4-0 Northwoods) travel to face Bethel (8-1, 6-1 MIAC, 4-0 Skyline) for the MIAC championship, and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, in Arden Hills.