Silky Smooth Joe Boyle and Academic All-District Jeff Schnobrich Ignite Johnnie Offense To Capture MIAC Title.
The Johnnie Front Leads The Team to The DIII Playoffs
When you’re the one who authored the book on Johnnie Football it only makes sense to occasionally reflect on the pages and volumes that comprise a record setting sixty year career. Lately wiith offensive woes minimizing an otherwise potent football team, it was time to consider giving the play calling back to the players.
After all, for long in Johnnie lore it was the quarterback who called the offensive plays, choosing from the array of oversized notecards in practice while during games John and Jimmy merely sent in “suggestions”. It was a selling point to potential recruits that on your resume’ you could include a line that stated; “I called my own plays at St. John’s!”
A distinct career advantage to the lads of Avon, Albany, Melrose, St. Cloud and the west metro when it came time for leveraging college accomplishments and diplomas.
Lately those “suggestions” were generating nothing more than measly returns and low scoring games decided by suspicious turnovers. As onlookers at Clemens Stadium have become accustomed to over the last decade or so, it’s been commonplace to see the wired up Jimmy Gagliardi conferring with his offensive players and then sending them to the huddle with the next “suggestion”.
With all the offensive follies of the past nine games it was time to try something different and go back to “the book”, letting the players do the talking.
Even the understated senior speedster Jeff Schnobrich felt it was time to speak up, his professed leadership style more suited to lead by example and taken from his rich German heritage of hometown New Ulm, MN.
After watching the Carls go ahead 10 – 7 with 50 seconds left and Johnnie Bryan Virnig making a return to their 38 yard line it was time for Schnobrich to make sure this wasn’t his last snap.
The cool Quarterback Joe Boyle started the fun by completing two short passes along the Johnnie sideline to Schnobrich and then hitting emerging tight end Josh Overman in the middle for a game changing gain to the Carleton 22 yard line.
At this moment, with the game tying fieldgoal within reach, Schnobrich approached the offensive madman Jim Gagliardi and suggested a shot down the Johnnie sideline to the Carleton end zone may be enough to capture victory.
With the Carleton defensive back anticipating another short route to the sideline, Schnobrich sprinted while the Knight defensive back planted. Joe Boyle then let loose with one more silkier smooth pass, this time a touchdown to the play calling Schnobrich.
Word has it that it was also Overman who suggested a pass over the middle on the previous play that helped move the Johnnies within field goal range.
The reigning national champion Wisconsin Whitewater Warhawks await the Johnnies this weekend for the first round of the 2008 playoff season. With a challenge like this it’s time for St. John’s Football to get back to “the good book”.
Photo Courtesy of Murphy, Sowden and Ward
