MIAC Release | D3football.com National Team of the Week (Sept. 17)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's senior linebacker Hayden Sanders (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) and senior quarterback Aaron Syverson (Minnetonka, Minn.) were named the MIAC Football's Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Monday, Sept. 16.

Sanders led then-No. 12 Saint John's with 10 tackles (six solo), including 4.0 for a loss and 2.5 sacks, as the Johnnies earned a 35-13 win over then-No. 5 Wartburg (Iowa) on Saturday (Sept. 14). SJU recorded 10 sacks and 14 tackles for loss, which helped limit the Knights to only nine rushing yards for the game. The 10 sacks were the most for SJU since it recorded the program record of 13 in the 62-3 win over Monmouth (Ill.) on Nov. 19, 2005, in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs and the 14 tackles for loss were the most since 2018. The 13 points scored for Wartburg were its fewest since 2015.

Syverson finished 34 of 38 passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. He completed his first 10 passes and 18 of his first 19. The lone incompletion during that stretch was a dropped pass. Syverson's .895 completion percentage was the third-best in SJU history, while his 34 pass completions tied him for third-most. The 324 yards served as his 11th game with 300 or more, which broke his tie with Alex Kofoed '07 for second in program history (Jackson Erdmann '19 owns the record at 15). He also moved into a tie with Kurt Ramler '97 and Tom Linnemann '00 for third with his 27th career win (a 27-4 record).

The Johnnies (2-0 overall) return to the field following their bye with the MIAC opener at No. 24 Bethel on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Arden Hills.