SJU Advances to Second Round With 41-13 Win
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 8 Saint John’s University used an offensive flurry of 17 unanswered points in the final 1:49 of the first half to defeat No. 25 University of Redlands 41-13 in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday, November 17 in Collegeville, Minn.
SJU senior safety John Cloeter (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) intercepted the first offensive play from Redlands junior quarterback Dan Selway and returned it for a touchdown, only to have the score called back due to a penalty. Four plays later, senior quarterback Alex Kofoed (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) ran into the end zone from four yards out to give the Johnnies an early 7-0 lead.
Junior running back Zack Schafer put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with a four-yard touchdown run of his own with 6:36 remaining in the second quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 7-6 in favor of the Johnnies.
With 1:49 remaining in the first half, Kofoed hit senior wide receiver Brian Weber (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) on a 61-yard touchdown strike to give SJU a 14-6 lead. The Johnnies then recovered a Schafer fumble on the Redlands 29-yard line and scored on a 14 yard pass from Kofoed to senior running back Mike Patnode (Princeton, Minn.) five plays later. On the very next offensive play for Redlands, Cloeter intercepted Selway for the second time of the game and returned it to the Bulldogs’ 24-yard line with 23 seconds left in the first half. SJU moved to the 9-yard line before junior place kicker/punter Russell Gliadon (Fridley, Minn.) booted a 26-yard field goal to give the Johnnies a 24-6 lead heading into halftime.
A 27-yard field goal by Gliadon and a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kofoed to Patnode increased the SJU lead to 34 -6 with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter.
Quarterback Steve Smith connected with Jake Lacey for a 6-yard touchdown with 13:08 left in the fourth quarter to cut Redlands’ deficit to 34-13.
Senior wide receiver Chace Pollock (Marshall, Minn.) caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Kofoed with 5:21 remaining in the game to end the scoring for both teams.
Kofoed ended the game 17 of 34 for 244 yards, four touchdowns (five total) and two interceptions. Patnode led the Johnnies’ ground attack with 113 yards on 24 carries (4.7 avg.) and added six receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Weber caught 5 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown for SJU (10-1 overall).
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Ryan Wimmer (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral), in his first game back from dislocating his elbow on Nov. 27, led the Johnnies with 11 tackles (five solo). Senior safety Kevin Boegel (Mahtomedi, Minn.) made nine tackles (three solo) and added an interception.
Selway was 10 of 23 passing for 120 yards and two interceptions, while Smith ended the day 12 of 16 for 93 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Schafer gained 31 yards on 15 carries for the Bulldogs (8-2 overall). Sophomore Brenden Barkate and junior Brian Putman each caught five pass for 66 and 54 yards, respectively. Senior safety Brad Smith and junior linebacker Eddie Stamm led Redlands with eight tackles each. Sophomore defensive end Tam Berhe collected four tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for the Bulldogs, who now fall to 0-5 all-time in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Saint John’s legendary head coach John Gagliardi, college football’s all-time winningest coach, improves his overall record to 453-121-11 in 59 seasons (429-115-10 record in 55 seasons at SJU).
The Johnnies advance to play No. 3 Central College (11-0) in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday, Nov. 24. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium in Pella, Iowa. Central defeated Olivet, Mich. 38-17 in its first-round playoff game today. SJU is 4-1 all-time against Central. The Johnnies defeated the Dutch 21-13 in the first round of the NCAA playoffs last season.
Notes: The Johnnies are now 18-4 in home playoff games…SJU has now won 15 consecutive first-round playoff games…Kofoed needs one passing touchdown to become the 14th player in NCAA Division III history to throw for 100 touchdowns in a career…the Johnnies had two interceptions for touchdowns called back due to illegal blocking penalties in the game.
Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes