The Johnnies got onto the board midway through the 2nd Qtr. on a 31 yard FG by Jimmie Mattson. Mattson has displayed his leg strength this season by tying a school record with a 52 yard FG earlier this season, and kicking this 31 yard score into a strong south wind showed his leg strength and accuracy once again.

Jimmie Mattson, Jr. Kicker

The Johnnies scored again shortly before halftime as QB Ben Krebsbach,in the game  after starter Connor Bruns had a rough beginning,threw a 31 yard scoring pass to Wade Powers in the end zone. The ball hung in the air,throwing into the strong wind,and Powers out muscled the defender for the reception.The Johnnies go into halftime trailing 17-10.

After the early scores by St. Olaf,two of which were on short field caused by SJU turnovers, the Johnnie defense really came together as a unit and played a very tenacious swarming style of defense, wrapping up star Ole RB Leon Clark with as many as five SJU defenders. Taylor Dammermann was the leading tackler for the Johnnies. Jake King,Joe Donner and Nick Zweber were credited with QB sacks and Bobby Fischer had an interception.

Taylor Dammermann Jr. LB

The Johnnies came out of halftime and the Stephen Johnson show really took center stage. Johnson had scoring runs of 27 yards and 6 yards in the 3rd Qtr. highlighting his 38 carries for 196 net rushing yards on the afternoon. The Johnnies have,at this point, taken the lead 24-17 and have scored 24 unanswered points.

The Oles tie the score at 24-24 with 1:54 to play in the game and it appears that the game may be heading to overtime unless somehow the Johnnies can find something that has been missing for most of the season; that would be Johnnie Magic.

On what would be the second Ole punt handling miscue of the 4th Qtr,the Ole punt return man let the ball bounce off the turf and hit him in the leg, and into the waiting arms of Johnnie Special Teams player Blake Bellefeuille. The Johnnies were then on their way to the game winning FG.

Blake Bellefeuille Freshman LB

The Johnnies started the final drive from their own 43 yard-line. After a Krebsbach incompletion the coaching staff inserted Bruns back into the game at QB. Bruns has the stronger arm and has been called on in situations throughout the season the run the “hurry up offense”. The Johnnies drove the ball to the Ole 8 yard line, and Mattson was brought in to attempt the game winning FG with 5 seconds remaining. Mattson came through and converted the kick.

The Oles had one more play after the ensuing kick off and 2.3 seconds on the clock. The horror  of the Augsburg finish at Homecoming was running through the minds of the Johnnie Faithful in the stands. As in the Homecoming game, a Johnnie defender narrowly missed sacking the QB and there was a desperation throw into the end zone. This time,however, the Johnnies prevail as the throw fell to the turf incomplete.

The Johnnies can end their season on a 4 game winning streak next week in St. Paul, if they remain focused and play like they are capable if playing finishing at 6-4. A record of 6-4 is disappointing to this team as well as missing the NCAA Division III play-off for a second consecutive year,but it sure will feel a lot better than a potential 5-5 record. The playing experience that younger players received this season should be valuable building blocks for years to come in Johnnie Football.

** Photos Courtesy of GoJohnnies.com

The 2011 Johnnie Football season has been surprisingly highlighted by lopsided losses, inconsistent offensive and defensive play as well as constant media references to the unhappy Johnnie fan base. 

The uncharacteristic nature of the 2011 season has even caught the attention of The Minneapolis StarTribune.  Wednesday’s above the fold story in the sports section was entitled ”Johnnies On The Spot” and chronicled not only the tradition Coach John Gagliardi has established on campus but also potential cures for a team desparately seeking to avoid it’s first losing season since the mid-60’s.

Saturday’s game against St. Olaf is a critical match for both teams as SJU attempts to continue it’s rise from embarassing losses to UST and Bethel while St. Olaf’s post season hopes hinge on it’s two remaining games.  The Ole game on Saturday presents a critical opportunity for the Johnnies to regain their birthright as the rightful owners of MIAC football. 

In their game against Carleton last weekend the Johnnie offense returned to a big play passing attack with QB Conner Bruns powering the football through the air with acrobatic catches from his receiver corps.  The aggressive and well executed passing attack harkened back to a more glorious time in Johnnie Football and could well be the formula for a victory this weekend. 

A return to small college prominence and post season play are the pursuits for every Johnnie Football team and the expectations for every serious Johnnie Football fan.  The alure of small college football in the cool fall air of Collegeville is the fuel by which hard core Johnnie fans feed their addiction.  Combined with the familiar translucent sky witnessed only during the Minnesota autumn,  Johnnie playoff dramas are the essence and spirit by which Johnnie fans live and so desparately seek.

Despite the early season spankings and depressing results, Saturday’s game is a golden opportunity for the Johnnie football season to continue it’s two game winning streak and beat a team in search of only it’s second post season appearance – ever!

Believe it, Saturday counts.

Joe Boyle Sr. QB

This was the Johnnies sixth 500+ yard offensive performance on the season. Meanwhile, the Johnnie defense shut down the St. Olaf running game allowing just 75 yards on the ground. In doing so,SjU held one of the MIAC elite running backs,Leon Clark, to  just 6 net rushing yards. Midway through the 2nd quarter the Oles had 1st and goal from the 2 yard line and the Johnnies shut down Clark on 2nd and 3rd downs forcing the Oles to settle for a FG.

Offensively the Johnnies were led by Jakob Reding with 116 yards on the ground,scoring once and Nick Schneider who had 33 yards on the ground but scored 2 TDs. Through the air Joe Boyle found Reding 5 times for 24 yards and a TD. Boyle hit Brett Graboski 3 times for 25 yards and a TD and Nick Schneider  had 2 receptions for 88 yards and a TD. Boyle spread the ball around nicely  connecting with 8 Johnnie receivers going 24 of 35 with 1 interception for 329 yards.

Nick Schneider Fr. RB

Jakob Reding Sr. RB

The Johnnies scored twice in the final 6 minutes of the first half to bring a 28-3 lead into the intermission. The first being a 8 play 74-yard drive ending in a 6 yard TD pass from Boyle to Reding. The last score of the first half was a 54 -yard pass from Boyle to Schneider as time ran out in the half. Jimmie Mattson connected on the PAT for the 28-3 half time lead.

The Johnnie defense shut down the St. Olaf ground game forcing the Oles into some predictable situation where the Johnnie defensive line could pin their ears back and let their athleticism dominate play. Kyle Schroeder,David Burns and Mike Bonynge were the leading tacklers for the Johnnies with 6 tackles each. Scchroeder had 2 QB sack and Burns added a sack as well.

David Burns Sr. DL

Mike Bonynge So. DB

Kyle Schroeder Sr. DL

The Johnnies have done well in shaking off early season losses, where miscues on the part of SJU greatly influenced the outcome of those games. This team could have “played out the string” but instead they stuck together and made correction in their execution and will finish their season next week at home against Hamline.
We at JohnnieFootball.com hope to see you at the pre-game tailgate party and the game. Johnnie-up everybody!

*Photos appear courtesy of gojohnnies.com

Grief over their Football Program (both the actual team and the pamphlet they allege to act as a program at the games), their Field (crooked Goal Posts during the 2008 game and of course the mud pit they made us play on subsequently lose in 2004) and finally grief for having attended a school that puts more into their Choir and accompanying music program than any other program, especially any This week sees the Johnnie Nation make our second trip down 35 to Northfield as the athletic program!

 Yes, it is D3 and education and the arts are very important, but that is in theory because you tell me the last time that a showing of any choir in the world pulled down a bigger television and/or radio rating than a football game!

 According to Ole Lore there was faithful Alum who made a significant financial gift to St Olaf. These funds were ear marked for the athletic programs and a complex, with the football program designated to receive a great amount of the cash.  However this loyal Ole later discovered that a lot of the funding he committed was being re-routed to the Music/Choir departments instead of where he had intended! This Ole Alum promptly pulled his gift and re-gifted the funds to Gustavus! Legend, myth, lore, or fact? In any case it does not matter to me because where there is smoke there is fire, and I would venture to say that some part, if not all of this story is true!

 I mean we are dealing with a school that hired a Bethel grad to be their head Football Coach (hey, how did that job with the Redskins turn out for your Meidt?) This is a school where you can major in French horn performance! Isn’t that like a precursor to working in Starbucks? Seriously, how in the Heck to you get a “real “job with a major like that! 

 And to boot, St Olaf is a dry campus (thus the synergy in hiring a Bethel grad for your coach). And you went there why? I think they should loosen up a bit because the only way to tolerate their Field and substandard game day program is if you are not “feeling any pain”!

 But do not get me wrong Johnnie Nation. The Oles are very good this year and like a Shark who smells blood in the water it is safe to assume that they are salivating at the prospect of beating us on their cow pasture!

 Johnnie Nation, it is time to role into Northfield yet again (sadly for me I will not be rolling with my good Ole buddy). Let’s get out and support the Johnnies as they look to make these Choir Boys sing a sad song after suffering yet another defeat by our hands!

 Time to Johnnie up for the final road game of 2010! See you all at the traveling tailgate and don’t forget to bring your French horn and Starbucks apron! (And of course the tip jar)

With that said die hard Johnnie fans interested in tailgating can partake in Chef Fahey’s grilled delights at the following location in Northfield:

The Stiftungsfestivities will be held at the Odd Fellows Park in Northfield this Saturday for the St. Olaf game. After you exit off of 35 onto MN-19 going east to Northfield, look for Orchard St. Take a left on Orchard and then take another left on Forest Avenue and head to the park. We will be starting the tailgate party at 10:00 a.m. Bring a culinary delight to share.

For those of you looking for something to do indoors prior to game time our resident Iron Chef Max Stein recommends J. Grundy’s Rueb ‘n’ Stein located at 503 Division St. in Northfield.  Official open time is 11:00am however if you have a group and want to dive in a bit early just give them a call at 507-645-6691.  

You gotta love that small town hospitality.

JohnnieUpEverybody!

After the loss to Bethel, a Johnnie alum proclaimed on a D3football.com message board that the Johnnies’ remaining games were “meaningless.”  When challenged on this, he would concede only that the remaining games were not meaningless to the players, their families and the coaches – a concession that ceded to Johnnie football the significance of Little League and youth soccer.  That following Sunday, over 9,000 people braved poor weather to show up at Clemens Stadium to watch the Johnnies hammer out a methodical victory over Gustavus on Family Weekend.

The Johnnies have lost three games this year – three games by a total of seven points, with two decided only in overtime.  As a result, the Jays will not be MIAC champions this year, or even runners-up, for the first time since 1997, and they will fail to make the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2004.  So it certainly must be conceded that the Jays’ remaining games have no impact on the conference title, much less on the playoffs.  That’s truly disappointing for the team and its fans.  But is playing out the season “meaningless”?  No way. 

Winning or losing, Johnnie football is meaningful to far more than the players, families and coaches. 

• Every Johnnie home game brings together thousands of students, alumni, SJU staff, subway alumni, and others who choose to spend an afternoon watching, or listening (Johnnie alums and fans across Minnesota and the country, and even abroad, listen in over the radio or the internet), as the Johnnies go for another victory.  SJU traditionally leads the nation in attendance for D-III, besting even some D-II and D-1AA schools.  The tailgating is great, but when the game starts everyone is in the stadium.  At games away from home, Johnnie fans typically outnumber the fans supporting the home team.

• Every Johnnie game is another game in the legendary record of the winningest coach in the history of college football.  Having had the ever growing record hammered at them every time John Gagliardi’s name is mentioned in the media, including virtually every article in the St. Cloud Times, Johnnie fans have probably grown nearly immune to its significance.  But it is an astonishing record that likely never will be bested and to which each game adds.

• Every Johnnie game is a chance for players to get better – for the next game and, for the underclassmen, for the next season.  This year the underclassmen will look to the seniors, to measure their commitment to playing winning Johnnie football even when playoffs and conference championships are no longer at stake.  Johnnies have won in the past and will win in the future due to the annual passing down of this commitment to winning.

Johnnie football carries on a tradition that each year connects with thousands of people – students and staff, alumni, subway alumni, and many more.  I continue to be amazed at the people I meet at games who have no direct connection to SJU yet attend games regularly.  All of these people certainly share in the wins and the championships.  So far as I can see, they’re still putting their chips “all in” on red when the Johnnies lose – even when the team falls short of a championship or the playoffs.  Meaningless games?  Not to them. 

The Johnnies played hard against Gustavus and Carleton, and they’ll play hard against the Oles and Hamlin in the games to come.  They’re naturally disappointed with their results this year but they still have a tradition of winning to carry on and to leave for those who follow.

The game was not meaningless to the 9000+ fans who showed up for Gustavus, and it won’t be meaningless for those who show up this week in Northfield or for the last game of the season in Collegeville the following week.  There is a season to complete and a tradition to carry on; there are games to play that players want to play – and win – and that people want to see.  Meaningless games?  Bah.

Clark Stanton, “Tmerton”, has been traveling cross country for the better part of 5 years to watch his son play small college football.  His days watching Johnnie Football at least this season are coming to an end.  We’re hoping Clark and his family make annual trips back to Collegeville to share in our fall time passion.

The furthest back I can remember is an early September 2000 showdown. To my knowledge this was my first time on St. Olaf’s campus. It was the perfect day for Johnnie football with the sun shining and a comfortable Fall temperature. Chris Moore and the Johnnies came out with some heat and ran all over the Oles in this matchup- great way to start the 21st century.
The following year was the first game post-9/11. From the minute we arrived on campus, things did not seem right. This feeling continue through the dismal first half of the game. Not only were the Johnnies not doing well, but also the mood was very somber from the events of the past week. The tempo picked up in the second half but the Johnnies still fell short to the Oles for the first time in the 2000s. This did not seem right and my strong dislike from “Um Ya Ya” came to life. This “battle” chant gets my blood churning- very annoying. How well have the Braves done lately with their chant? Exactly.

The 2000 and 2001 matchups were only 2 of many games I have attended between the two schools- some on each campus.
Unfortunately I will not be making the trek to this Johnnie athletic event. Instead, I will be a travelling Johnnie 339 miles to the east of St. Olaf’s football field. You guessed right, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is where I will be! Also in Milwaukee this weekend is the SJU basketball team for an exhibition matchup against Marquette University. Although that is not the purpose of my trip, I hope to make it to a portion of the game depending on a funeral Saturday in the surrounding area.

Purebred Prediction: Johnnies 24, St. Olaf 14
A victory for the Johnnies means they are guaranteed an above .500 season. A loss means the Johnnies will need to win their final game to finish above .500. Let’s get the W now and forget about that worry!

Ole Offense:  Sophomore QB, Dan Dobson #1, is this week’s MIAC Player of the Week after throwing 5 TD passes last week against Hamline.  He has thrown 19 TD passes and run for 3 this season.  Junior RB, Leon Clark #5, leads the Ole rushing attack with 7 TDs and 933 yards this year.  He is extremely shifty and quick through the hole.  Senior WR, Antonio Jennings #2, has 10 TD receptions and 593 yards on the season.  The Oles have numerous weapons and they will be a stern test for the Johnnie defense.

Johnnie Offense:  The key to a great offense is exhibiting a good balance between pass & run thereby not becoming too predictable for the opposing defense.  Josh Overman and the dynamic 4 pronged Johnnie rushing attack have the ability to do that on a weekly basis.  The Ole defense is absolutely no slouch and they will prove a challenge to move the ball effectively.

Ole Defense:  Sophomore DB, Ben Dobson #7, and Junior LB, Matt Olson #37, are the key cogs in the Ole defense.  They make plays all over the field and have a great nose for the football.  The Oles were steamrolled by St. Thomas earlier in the season but excluding that they’ve been very stingy all season.  If they can create havoc and force some turnovers (which the Johnnies have been prone to all season) the Oles have a great shot on Saturday.

Johnnie Defense:  Senior DL, Kyle Schroeder #97, is the reigning MIAC Defensive Player of the Week following a stellar performance last week at Carleton.  The Oles come at you in waves with lots of outstanding skill position players and speed all over the field.  The key will be making them as one dimensional as possible.

Ole Special Teams:  Sophomore Punter/Kicker, Jason Obarski #3, is 5-8 in FGs and 27-31 in PATs this season.  Freshman, Michael Thai #22, is returning punts with a 10.1 yards per return this season.  Leon Clark and Reggie Woods are returning kicks for the Oles.

Johnnie Special Teams:  Jimmie Mattson and Scott Ramey continue to take the kicking duties.  They will be key in helping to tilt the field for optimal field position on Saturday.  The Oles have lots of offensive weapons and making them go 80+ yards to score will be critical. 

The Oles are young, talented, and hungry.  They will be contending for the MIAC title next season with help from their continued strong pipeline of recruits from Florida & Atlanta.  The Johnnies continue to let opponents hang around while showing a propensity for making turnovers.  This game will be close.

St. John’s 20 – St. Olaf 21

Frosh Steve Johnson, Photo courtesy of GoJohnnies.com

We’re never quite satisfied with the absolute condition of The Johnnie Football team regardless of how many wins have been notched, rushing yards gained, passes completed or record setting field goals converted with less than 10 seconds left on the clock.

As Johnnie Football fans we’d design our own template that would create the type of game that not only would end in victory but would have enough rushing yards to balance the explosive passing game we knew with Stagg Bowl quarterbacks Tom Linnemann and Ryan Keating.

Even the record setting quarterback AK-11, Alex Kofoed, as recently as two seasons ago was continuing the stereotype of big passing, big play, high scoring signal callers in Collegeville. 

To continue our expectations the opposition would rarely cross midfield and victory would be comfortably in hand before the 4th quarter with margins of victory of at least 21 points.  The regular season would end with a perfect record and the NCAA DIII playoff committee would grant SJU a number one seed.

The 2009 chapter of Coach John Gagliardi’s continuing career can’t be called typical and certainly hasn’t been textbook, however the results are precisely what we’ve expected.  Through eight regular season games and as coach Gagliardi would say himself, “You can’t be any better than 8 – 0”.

We know coach, but couldn’t you tell your quarterback to throw a few more down field passes for pretty completions and spectacular touchdowns? 

Exciting downfield passes and long touchdown receptions have suddenly become a distant memory as The Johnnies Joe B. Quarterback finds himself on the sideline with a severely injured thumb.  The injury reports swirling on the internet are better suited for the spare parts room in Jeffry Dahmer’s Milwaukee apartment. 

The luck and magic that accompany Johnnie Football year after year cannot be denied and the past two seasons have seen their share of miracle finishes.  From a cascade of improbable wins and losses across the conference in the last four weeks of the 2008 season and heart thumping field goals of 49 and 52 yards this season, there is no template that exits to detail the unexplainable.

With Joe B.’s throwing hand in questionable health for the rest of the season you can expect the improbable Johnnie running game to continue its dominance and mastery of MIAC opponents.  With untested back-up talent at quarterback don’t be surprised if The Johnnie offense installs The Miami Dolphin version of the Wildcat with one of The Johnnie jumbo backs Jakob Reding or Kellen Blaser taking the direct snap.

And when Joe B. Quarterback reappears on the 21st of November with his dangling thumb partially healed and slapped together with a heavy dose of athletic tape,  we certainly won’t see anything resembling 21st century football.

Just more of the improbable.  Improbable enough to find the Johnnies deep into the DIII playoffs while relying on early 20th century technique.  Now that’s scary!

Jeff Gilbertson paving the way for jumbo back Kellen Blaser

The Johnnies got on the board first as the defense created a short field when John Stanton forced a fumble which was recovered by Ryan Wimmer. From there the Johnnie offense with Boyle at the helm went on an 8 play 44-yard scoring drive capped off by a 1-yard  scoring run from Jakob Reding. Followed by the sucessful PAT from Russell Gliadon making the score 7-0 in favor of the Johnnies.

The Oles would get on the board at the 4:16 mark of the 1st quarter with a 47 yard field goal. This would be the end of the scoring for the Oles as the Johnnie defense turned away a couple of scoring threats  with big plays both at the end of the 1st half and at the end of the game.

The first serious threat of an Ole score was  with 13 seconds remaining in the 1st half  as Mike Bonynge stepped in front of a St. Olaf receiver at the goal line and returned the ball  66 yards to the St. Olaf 34-yard line with .9 second remaining on the clock . The Johnnie coaching staff sent out the field goal unit to attempt a 52-yarder as time expired. In a season fill with many dramatic plays and last second heroics the new school record 52-yard Russell Gliadon field goal ranks right near the top. The kick, not as dramatic or with as many “style points”  as the game winner against Bethel, cleared the cross bar to end the first half and would close out the scoring for the game. Half time score SJU 10- St. Olaf 3.

Russell Gliadon record breaking field goal

The second half was a a series of stalled drives by both teams. An opportunity for Freshman  QB John Ries to get adjusted to playing with the first unit at game speed and he played as well as can be expected under the circumstances. The Johnnie defense came up with big plays and took advantage of poor clock management by St. Olaf to end a late threat as the Oles had driven into the SJU red zone in the closing seconds of the game. SJU defensive end Jeff Bohlman sacked the Ole QB on the last play of the game to extinguish any upset bid the Oles may have had designs in the closing seconds of the game.

The Johnnie offensive line, affectionally known as The Collegeville Moving Company, consisting of Tim Juba, Blaine Anderson, Eric Dirkes, Jeff Gilbertson and Drew Percival were able to control the clock for 35 minutes 22 seconds allowing the Johnnie defense to remain fresh enough to hold off the late rally by the Oles. Coming into the bye week will be very valuable for Boyle’s replacement to work with the line and the running backs and receivers. The play of the offensive line has been the deciding factor in winning the close games this season as time of possession has proven to be a very important statistical category to be in control of.

The Johnnies again were led by the running tandem of Kellen Blaser who had 17 carries for 71 yards and Jakob Reding who had  18 carries for 44 yards and the lone touchdown on the day. John Ries was 5-9 passing for 40 yards.The leading receiver for the Johnnies was Josh Overman with 3 catches for 25 yards.

Defensively the Johnnies were led by Ryan Wimmer who had 7 tackles and a fumble recovery. Dominic Haik and Bobby Klink each had 6 tackles. John Stanton and Mike Bonynge each had 5 tackles. Stanton had a forced fumble and Bonynge had the 66 yard interception return that made the 52-yard field goal possible to end the 1st half. Jeff Bohlman had a fumble recovery and a QB sack. David Burns had a forced fumble and a QB sack. Nick Gunderson took more defensive series playing with a torn ACL in his right knee and also recorded a QB sack.

With two more MIAC games remaining, the Johnnies have their work cut out. In a season of injuries to key players, the injury to Joe Boyle is just another to add to the list, for now all the team and fans can do is to wait for the results of the MRI on Monday. The timing of bye week is a silver lining in a gray cloud as having two weeks to prepare for the next game at this stage of the season certainly is better than only having one week.

It’s time to Johnnie up everybody!