Johnnies Win Offensive Shootout, 51-34
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Senior quarterback Alex Kofoed (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) was 27 of 39 passing for 321 yards and four touchdowns and senior wide receiver Brian Weber (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) had 11 catches for 169 yards a score to lead No. 3/4 Saint John’s to a 51-34 win against St. Thomas on Saturday, Oct. 27 in Collegeville. With the 321 yards, Kofoed became the 18th player in NCAA Division III history to gain over 10,000 passing yards in his career.
The Johnnies jumped out to an early lead as senior safety John Cloeter (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) recovered a fumble by St. Thomas’ quarterback David Sauer, forced by fellow senior safety Kevin Boegel (Mahtomedi, Minn.), and returned it 11 yards to the Tommies’ five-yard line. Senior running back Mike Patnode (Princeton, Minn.) scored on a 1-yard touchdown run three plays later to give SJU a 7-0 lead with 12:43 showing on the clock.
UST answered with a 16-play, 90-yard scoring drive capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Sauer to Sam Moen, tying the game at 7-7 with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter.
It didn’t take long for SJU to answer back, however. Kofoed hit Weber on a 62-yard touchdown pass on the Johnnies’ first offensive play to regain the lead, 14-7.
The Johnnies scored twice more in the first half with Kofoed throwing both two touchdowns to Albany High School graduates. Senior running back Aaron Blackmore scampered 18 yards on a screen pass, while freshman tight end Josh Overman grabbed a 4-yard touchdown pass with 5:57 remaining in the second quarter to give SJU a 28-7 lead.
St. Thomas’ Jake Casey scored from one-yard out to cut the deficit to 28-14 at the half.
Blackmore scored on a one-yard run to begin the second half, increasing the Johnnies’ lead to 35-14. St. Thomas came within one score of the Johnnies as Sauer completed two touchdown passes to P.J. Theisen, cutting the SJU lead to 35-28 with 13:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. Theisen ended the game with nine catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
The Johnnies took over from there, as Kofoed answered with a 5-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Chace Pollock (Marshall, Minn.). St. Thomas was forced to punt on their next possession, but had an errant snap sailed over the head of A.C. Clouthier for a two-point safety. Blackmore ended the scoring with a 1-yard plunge, his third touchdown of the game, with 1:48 remaining in the contest.
Boegel, junior defensive tackle Nick Gunderson (Woodbury, Minn.) and senior linebacker James Shockman (Berlin, N.D.) collected 10 tackles each. Boegel forced two fumbles and senior cornerback Sam Gervais (Brainerd, Minn.) recorded an interception, his third of the season.. Gunderson and senior defensive end Mitch Eversman (Elk River, Minn.) each recorded two tackles for loss and two sacks in the game.
St. Thomas outgained the Johnnies 453-419 but committed three turnovers and seven penalties for 74 yards. SJU converted all six red zone opportunities and were 3-for-3 on fourth-down conversions in the game.
SJU head coach John Gagliardi has improved his career record to 452-120-11 (.785) in 59 seasons and 428-114-10 (.784) record in 55 seasons at SJU.
The Johnnies (9-0, 7-0 MIAC) will take next Saturday off before traveling to face Bethel on Saturday, Nov. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Royal Stadium in Arden Hills.
Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes