SJU Clinches NCAA Bid with 31-0 Win over Carleton
November 10, 2001 SJU Clinches NCAA Bid with 31-0 Win over Carleton
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John’s University football team clinched their fourth consecutive NCAA Division III playoff berth and seventh in the last nine years with a 31-0 win over Carleton College at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, Minn.
After a scoreless first quarter, junior wide receiver Blake Elliott caught a four-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Ryan Keating for a 7-0 lead. Freshman kicker Brandon Keller hit a 31-yard field goal with one minute left in the half to raise SJU’s lead to 10-0.
In the third quarter Elliott caught two more touchdown receptions. The first was a 25-yard pass fro Keating, with the second being a 14-yard pass from junior quarterback Ross Denne.
The final scoring of the game came in the fourth quarter when junior Kent Crowley scored on a two-yard run to make the final score 31-0.
For SJU, Elliott caught 12 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. The 12 catches ties for the fourth most in a single-game in SJU history, while the 205 yards receiving marks only the eighth time in school history a player has caught over 200 yards in a game at SJU. Senior wide receiver Drew Gibson had five catches for 73 yards. Keating was 17-of-33 passing for 221 yards, one interception and two touchdowns, while Denne was 5-of-7 for 83 yards and one touchdown. Junior linebacker Cam McCambridge had 12 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in the shut out win for the Johnnies. The Johnnies out gained the Knights 458 to 257 in total offense. The Johnnies recorded their third shut out in the last four games.
The Knights were led by senior running back Robert Von Glahn, who had 21 carries for 50 yards, while sophomore running back Dale Williams had 59 yards on nine carries. Senior quarterbacks Jesse Anderson and Jon Groteboer combined to go 13-of-29 passing for 138 yards and two interceptions. The Knights were sacked seven times for minus-43 yards. Senior linebacker Scott O’Reilly, the MIAC’s leading tackler, had 20 tackles and two tackles for loss in the game.
With the win, the Johnnies also clinch a share of their 25th MIAC title in school history and eighth in the last 11 years. SJU finished the regular season with an 8-2 record, 8-1 in the MIAC. The Johnnies tied Bethel for the MIAC title and received the NCAA automatic bid due to beating the Royals 34-0 on Oct. 27. SJU has now won eight straight games after starting the season 0-2. Carleton finishes the season with a 0-10, 0-9 record in the MIAC.
Photo: SJU junior Blake Elliott, #2
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Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes