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10/17/99 - Minneapolis Star Tribune Game Story  |  10/17/99 - Fargo Forum Game Story  |   10/17/99 - Fargo Forum Columnist Mike McFeely

Collegeville, Minn. -- Saint John’s University senior wide receiver Ben Sieben, Melrose, caught a 32-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Corey Stanger, Becker, with 3:10 left in the first half, which was the only scoring the Johnnies needed in a 7-3 win over Concordia-Moorhead College at Clemens Stadium. SJU entered the game as the 17th ranked team in the latest AFCA poll, while Concordia-Moorhead received votes in the same poll. A crowd of over 6,000 watched the game in Collegeville as part of family weekend activities at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

The Cobbers opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 23-yard field goal by senior Clayton Horgen, Fergus Falls. The Cobbers drove 46 yards in 14 plays after intercepting a Corey Stanger pass on the first possession of the game.

After a punt on the Johnnies’ second possession of the game, the Cobbers drove 60 yards in 16 plays, but fumbled on the SJU five-yard line. SJU junior Marc Jerzak, Milaca, recovered the fumble for the Johnnies to end Concordia’s possible scoring drive.

The rest of the game was very evenly matched as both teams could not sustain many long drives. SJU did drive 72 yards in the third quarter, but it ended at the Cobber 27-yard line after a failed fourth-down conversion attempt. Concordia did have a final drive in the last minute of the game, but it ended on a sack at the Johnnie 47-yard line.

Corey Stanger was 14-for-29 in the game for 199 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Ben Sieben caught nine passes for 138 yards and the only Johnnie touchdown in the game. SJU senior punter Phil Barry, Crete, Neb., showed why he was last week’s national special teams player of the week as he punted six times for a 41.7 average, including a school record 79-yard punt in the second quarter. Barry, the leading punter in the nation, now has the six longest punts in SJU school history.

Concordia junior quarterback Jeff Hertel, Fargo, N.D., was 11-for-23 passing for 152 yards. Senior fullback Nathan Reiff, Whitehall, Mont., carried the ball 17 times for 66 yards.

SJU out gained Concordia 287 to 268 yards in total offense. Both teams ran for less than 100 yards in the game, 97 for the Cobbers and 88 for the Johnnies. Both teams had 13 first downs and Concordia had the advantage in time of possession by only a minute. The Cobbers suffered from two lost fumbles, just as SJU suffered by throwing two interceptions.

The game marked the 31st meeting between SJU head coach John Gagliardi and Concordia head coach Jim Christopherson. This is the longest such coaching match-up in NCAA college football history. Gagliardi now leads the series 19-9-3, dating back to their first meeting in 1969. Gagliardi, in his 51st season as a collegiate head coach, now has 358 wins. He is the winningest active coach in all of college football and second all-time.

SJU is now 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAC. Concordia falls to 4-2 overall, 4-1 in the MIAC. SJU and Concordia are two of four teams currently tied for the top spot in the MIAC with 4-1 records. Gustavus Adolphus and St. Thomas are the other two teams. SJU will travel to Hamline next Saturday, while Concordia hosts Gustavus Adolphus. Both games begin at 1 p.m.