COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Alexi Johnson couldn't have asked for a more dramatic debut than the Johnnie kicker made in SJU's season opener 13 years ago.
 
Not only was Johnson, then a freshman out of Shakopee High School, playing in his first college game when the Johnnies traveled to Wisconsin-River Falls on Sept. 6, 2013. But the game – played under the lights on a Friday night – also marked the collegiate head coaching debut for longtime assistant Gary Fasching, who was taking over for the legendary John Gagliardi after college football's all-time wins leader retired following the 2012 season.
 
"The coaching staff told me on Wednesday of that week that they'd be giving me the first reps," recalled Johnson, who went on to become a four-year starter and ended his career second in school history in both career field goals (27) and career PAT's (190). "They actually brought two kickers for that game, but I got the start. 
 
"So I had a couple of days to get ready, but there were still quite a few butterflies there."
 
Especially as the Johnnies rapidly drove down the field on a pair of plays with the game tied in the final half-minute of play. Quarterback Nick Martin connected with Ben Krebsbach for a gain of 39 yards, then after an incomplete pass, Johnson's number was called for a 40-yard field goal attempt with just seconds remaining.
 
"In all honesty, I'd been on the sideline pacing by myself in my own world," Johnson recalled. "Especially as I could see the nervous energy start to pick up. Sometimes as a kicker, you want to stay away from that to make sure you're in the right headspace to get out there and make the kick."
 
Which is just what Johnson did, delivering SJU a big victory on a historic night.
 
"I do remember there seemed to be a lot of pressure in the air that week," said Johnson, who recalls the immediate moments after the kick being a bit of a blur. "As a freshman just coming into the program, you don't always understand the gravity of the situation. But as time has gone on, I've gotten a better grasp on how big a moment that really was with Gary taking over after John had been there for so many years.
 
"It was a big moment in SJU history and I'm really grateful I had the chance to take part in it. I think that kick really helped propel me into not just my four years here as a player, but now as a coach."
 
Indeed, Johnson is now going into his ninth season as a volunteer assistant working with the Johnnie kickers.
 
"I'm just glad to have a way to keep my connection to Collegeville strong and to try and help keep the tradition we've had of successful kickers here going," Johnson said. 
 
"It's something I really enjoy doing."
 
Johnson's kick is just one of a number of memorable season-opening moments over the years. Here is a look at a few others:
 
1947
Johnny Lawrence scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter, then Pete Neumann (who went on to a prominent career as an FBI agent) blocked an extra point after an Augsburg touchdown early in the fourth as the Johnnies hung on for a 7-6 victory under the lights in the driving rain on Sept. 27 at Nicollet Park in Minneapolis.


 
1965
It was a huge day for defensive back Pat Whalin, who returned an interception 56 yards, then returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown as the Johnnies began the run to their second national title with a 16-0 win over Wisconsin-River Falls on Sept. 11 in Collegeville.
 
1969
Freshman wideout Dave Arnold made his collegiate debut with touchdown catches of 48 and 74 yards as the Johnnies defeated Wisconsin-La Crosse 34-20 on the road on Sept. 6.
 
1982
Running back Rick Bell shined in the passing game, recording 226 receiving yards – still the second-highest single-game total in school history – as SJU topped St. Cloud State 45-35 on Sept. 11 in Collegeville in the second-to-last meeting between the two Central Minnesota college programs. In all, Bell – a Rocori High School graduate who went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings – piled up 375 yards in total offense.
 
1989
Gustavus Adolphus rallied for three touchdowns in the final quarter and had a chance to tie with 1:13 to play. But defensive end Sean Dailey and linebacker Tom Wicka applied pressure to GAC quarterback Jeff Erdmann (whose son Jackson would go on to become an All-American quarterback for the Johnnies), forcing an incompletion as SJU held on to win 29-28 before a crowd of just under 6,000 on Sept. 16 in Collegeville.
 
2003
All-American standout Blake Elliott caught nine passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 36 yards and another as SJU rolled past Hamline 74-7 on Sept. 13 at Griffin Stadium in St. Paul. It was the first win in a 14-0 season in which head coach John Gagliardi passed former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson for the most wins in college football history and the Johnnies laid claim to their fourth national title.
 
2012
There was little drama in the Johnnies' 52-7 win over Northwestern (Minn.) before a crowd of 7,314 on Sept. 1 at Clemens Stadium in Gagliardi's final season opener as head coach. But history was made in the fourth quarter when freshman quarterback Nick Martin connected with converted quarterback Ben Krebsbach for a 95-yard touchdown pass – the longest pass from scrimmage in program history.
 
2021
Senior defensive end Collin Franz (now a member of the coaching staff) stripped Aurora's All-American quarterback Gavin Zimbelman of the ball on 4th-and-goal at his team's 1-yard line with 17 seconds left to play to preserve a 39-33 season-opening victory for SJU before a crowd of 8,688 on Sept. 4 at a sun-soaked Clemens Stadium. It was the first game back after the 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
2023
SJU rallied from down 17 early in the fourth quarter, scoring the game's final 20 points to emerge with a wild 34-31 overtime victory over Trinity (Texas) before a crowd of 9,883 on Sept. 2 on a sweltering day at Clemens Stadium. Senior Cayden Saxon had an interception on Trinity's first offensive play in overtime to seal the win after junior Conor Murphy kicked a 35-yard field goal on the Johnnies' first possession.