D3football.com Poll – Week 7 | NPI (Oct. 18)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Saint John's University fell one spot to No. 3 in Sunday's (Oct. 18) D3football.com Top 25 poll.

Seven teams in NCAA Region 6 were ranked in the top 25: Wisconsin-Platteville (No. 2), SJU (No. 3), Wisconsin-Whitewater (No. 5), Wisconsin-River Falls (No. 13), Bethel (No. 15), Wisconsin-La Crosse (No. 20) and Linfield (No. 22). Chapman (49), Concordia-Moorhead (8) and Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1) received votes.

The Johnnies (6-0, 5-0 MIAC) moved up three spots to No. 10 in today's National Power Index (NPI). 

SJU's defense responded in the second half as the Johnnies bounced back for a 33-23 Homecoming win over Concordia-Moorhead yesterday in Collegeville. The home team scored the game's final two touchdowns and allowed the Cobbers just three points and a 0-for-7 showing on third down after halftime en route to the victory.

Concordia entered the game leading all of NCAA Division III in scoring defense (4.4 ppg.), pass-efficiency defense (73.01) and total defense (171.4 ypg.), was third in rushing defense (41.4 ypg.) and ninth in sacks (3.80 spg.). SJU, meanwhile, put up 33 points, a pass-efficiency rating of 155.55, 532 yards of offense, 59 rushing yards and did not allow a sack.

Senior quarterback Trey Feeney (Moorhead, Minn.) ended the day 35 of 51 passing for 473 yards and two touchdowns (to one interception). Fifteen of his pass completions went to senior wide receiver Riley Schwellenbach (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) for 245 yards. Schwellenbach's 69-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave SJU a 26-23 lead with 9:05 remaining. The aforementioned 15 receptions and 245 receiving yards were both second-best in SJU's single-game history.

Senior All-American linebacker Aiden McMahon (Maple Grove, Minn.) led the Johnnies with 13 tackles (four solo), while senior linebacker Andrew Molenaar (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) totaled 10 tackles (six solo), including two for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

Junior safeties Will Peroutka (Rosemount, Minn.) and Mark Rogalski (Eden Prairie, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) recorded interceptions in the game's final 3:17.

SJU visits Carleton (4-2, 4-1 MIAC) for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Laird Stadium in Northfield.