D3football.com Poll – Week 9 | NPI (Nov. 2)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Saint John's University moved up to No. 10 in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll and climbed two spots to No. 16 in the fourth National Power Index (NPI) released earlier today (Sunday, Nov. 2). 

Six teams in NCAA Region 6 were ranked in the top 25, all in the top 15: Bethel (No. 4), Wisconsin-River Falls (No. 8), Wisconsin-La Crosse (No. 9), SJU (No. 10), Wisconsin-Platteville (No. 12) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 14). Wisconsin-Stout (11), Chapman (9), Wisconsin-Oshkosh (8) and Whitworth (8) received votes.

SJU jumped two spots to No. 16 in the NCAA Division III's fourth release of the National Power Index (NPI). The NPI is in its second year as the NCAA's system for selecting the 12 at-large bids to the Division III playoffs, which includes 40 teams (28 automatic bids, 12 at-large). Six other teams the region were ranked in the top 20, including three in the top 10: Wisconsin-River Falls (No. 5), Bethel (No. 7), Wisconsin-La Crosse (No. 10), Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 13), Wisconsin-Platteville (No. 14) and SJU (No. 16). 

Saint John's jumped out to a 17-0 lead and recovered from a shaky second quarter to defeat Gustavus Adolphus 31-13 Saturday (Nov. 1) in St. Peter. The Johnnies (7-1, 6-1 MIAC) scored on their opening drive and added a pick six from senior cornerback Blake Simonson (Waconia, Minn.) before turnovers helped the Gusties (3-5, 3-4 MIAC) close the gap to 17-10 at the break. 

SJU regained control in the third quarter, capping a 70-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Trey Feeney (Moorhead, Minn.) to senior wideout Dylan Wheeler (St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View). Gustavus added a 28-yard field goal late in the third, but the Johnnies sealed the win with a 17-play, 53-yard drive that lasted over nine minutes and ended in sophomore wide receiver Carson Hegerle's (West Fargo, N.D.) second touchdown of the day.

Wheeler finished with 11 receptions for 128 yards – his fourth 100-yard game in his last five games – while senior tight end Joey Gendreau (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) caught eight passes for 82 yards. Feeney completed 30 of 43 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior linebacker Aiden McMahon (Maple Grove, Minn.) led an SJU defense that held Gustavus to 192 yards, including just 14 on the ground, with sacks from three different players. McMahon totaled 13 tackles (seven solo) and a quarterback hurry, while senior defensive linemen Zach Frank (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), Landon Gallagher (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) and Chandler Obering (Orange, Calif./Villa Park) had a solo sack.

Saint John's returns home to host St. Scholastica (3-5, 2-5 MIAC) for a noon kickoff Saturday, Nov. 8, in Collegeville.