Kofoed Becomes MIAC's All-Time Leading Passer in 46-7 Win
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senior running back Mike Patnode (Princeton, Minn.) ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns and senior quarterback Alex Kofoed (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) became the conference’s all-time leading passer as No. 3/4 Saint John’s defeated Hamline 46-7 on Saturday, Oct. 20 in St. Paul. Kofoed was 20 of 28 passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Kofoed entered the game needing 36 yards to become the MIAC’s all-time leading passer in conference games.
Hamline jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a 36-yard screen pass from Chad Schmigel to Ben Palmborg with 9:30 left in the first quarter to cap an 85-yard drive.
Patnode sprinted for a 61-yard touchdown run on the Johnnies’ first offensive play 17 seconds later. Junior Russell Gliadon (Fridley, Minn.) made his first of five successful point-after attempts to tie the game at 7-7. Gliadon later added a 21-yard field goal as the first half expired.
An errant snap from center thru the back of the end zone increased the SJU lead to 9-7 before Patnode added his second rushing touchdown of the game with 4:51 left in the first quarter, putting the Johnnies up 16-7.
Kofoed connected with freshman Josh Overman (Albany, Minn.) on the first drive of the second half to give SJU a 26-7 lead. The Johnnies then found the end zone three times in the final quarter. Patnode scored from two yards out with 9:19 remaining and junior running back Jeff Schnobrich (New Ulm, Minn./Cathedral) caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Kofoed two minutes later. The final Johnnie touchdown was a 12-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jordan Hansel (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) to senior wide receiver Charlie Welsh (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy).
Junior defensive end Mike Schumacher (Arden Hills, Minn./Totino-Grace) led the Johnnies with 7 tackles (4 solo), one tackle for loss and one sack. Junior defensive lineman Joe Luke (Alexandria, Minn.) added a sack and sophomore linebacker Ryan Wimmer (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) recorded an interception for SJU.
SJU outgained the Pipers 454-203 in the game, including a 224-80 advantage on the ground.
With the win, head coach John Gagliardi improves his career record to 451-120-11 (.784) in 59 seasons and 427-114-10 (.784) in 55 seasons at SJU.
SJU (8-0, 6-0 MIAC) will play host to St. Thomas on Family Weekend next Saturday, Oct. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.
Notes: Kofoed entered the game as the MIAC's all-time leading passer for all games, 1,821 yards more than St. Thomas' Chad Esterley (1993-96)...the last time an SJU player ran for three or more touchdowns in a game was by Corey Weber versus Augsburg on Oct. 22, 2005… SJU has now scored at least 40 points in each of the last eight meetings against Hamline, outscoring the Pipers 428-27 during that span…the Johnnies are now 50-23-3 all-time against the Pipers, including a 44-12-0 record under head coach John Gagliardi.
Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes