On an unusually warm and windy October day the St. John’s Johnnies emerged victorious with a come from behind Homecoming game win to the delight of the reported 12,339 fans at Clemens Stadium.
The victory gives the Johnnies the inside track for the MIAC title along with Bethel University who is also undefeated after yesterday’s victory against Gustavas Adolphus College.
This game lived up to all the hype. The match up of two undefeated teams, two teams ranked in the top 20 nationally for Division III NCAA schools and two teams who can put points on the scoreboard.
The Johnnies struck first as they took opening drive 13 plays for 68 yards capped off by an 8-yard pass from Alex Kofoed to Mike Patnode. The PAT from Russell Gliadon was perfect and the Johnnies were off to a 7-0 lead.
The Oles took no time in retuning the favor and scored on their first possession as their All-Conference WR Horace Gant hauled in a 41 yard TD pass from QB Matt Penz. What transpired next was critical to the outcome of the game. A botched snap during the PAT attempt did not allow Ole All-Conference kicker Paul Fortman to kick the extra point. This missed opportunity was the difference in the game.
Schmiesing’s punt return TD in the 3rd put the Oles ahead.
Don’t get me wrong, this was not a game of “butterflies and lollipops” as the Johnnies were shutdown by the Ole defense on several occasions and this game could have easily been won by a two TD margin by the Johnnies. The thing that did impress me was the fact that when crunch time came around the Johnnie offensive line took control. I jokingly call these big men up front the “Big Uglys” but they never seem to get enough praise for the thankless job they do. Jason Brodmerkel, Jason Primus, Andrew Salvato, Dan Gamache and Ben Dimond are the “Big Uglys”. I guess you could call TE Brett Saladin a Big Ugly too, but only when he stays in to block. When Saladin is out in traffic catching passes and getting the wind knocked out of himself, then he is a pretty boy of the receiving corp. Primus went out of the game in the first half with an ankle injury and was not able to return. Adam Schleper took his place and did a fine job, especially in the 4th quarter during crunch time when the Johnnies controlled the ball for the final 5:29 to preserve the victory.
Cloeter’s interception in the 2nd led to an SJU touchdown
The defense did what they had to in this game to get the victory for the Johnnies. Four times the Johnnie defense held the Oles to FG attempts instead of allowing a TD. On one of those FG attempts another botched snap did not allow the Ole kicker the opportunity to attempt the FG. I have a funny feeling that the Oles will be spending extra time next week with their long-snapping specialist.
Kevin Boegel, Ryan Wimmer, Joe Luke, James Shockman and Josh Rose led the defense in tackles. Joe Luke recorded the only sack of the game for the Johnnies, so for the next week he is the Chairman of the SJU Sack Exchange. John Cloeter recorded the only interception of the game and returned it 42 yards. The interception was later cashed in for a 6-yard TD strike from Kofoed to Chace Pollock.
The Johnnies showed off a “dime package” several times using 6 defensive backs to cover multiple receivers in situations that the Oles would be passing the ball on 2nd and 3rd down and long. The two additional DBs were Bobby Klint and Derek Stifter.
Sam Gervais had the thankless job many times through out the day of covering Ole All-Conference WR Horace Gant. Gervais kept Gant mainly in check for the day as Gant only scored one TD for the Oles. Gervais is another Johnnie with perseverance and focus, who paid his dues as a special teams player and back-up DB patiently waiting his turn to shine. In his senior year Gervais is in the starting line up and yesterday was one of the team captains representing the Johnnies at midfield for the coin toss prior to kick off.
The Johnnie defense as a whole played well allowing the Oles 349 yards of total offense. The Oles came into the game averaging 573.8 yards of offense per game and 51.2 points scored per day.
The Johnnies offense was led again by Alex Kofoed who was 28 of 43 passing for 318 yards, 3 TD passes and 0 interceptions.
The 3-headed monster running attack of Mike Patnode, Aaron Blackmore and Jeff Schnobrich combined for 106 yards rushing.
Kofoed spread the ball around to seven Johnnie receivers as Patnode, Blackmore, Schnobrich, along with Brian Weber, Brett Saladin, Chace Pollock, and Ben Vanderheyden all caught passes.
Patnode scored 2 TDs with Pollock and Weber each adding a TD. Russell Glaidon was perfect on PAT attempts as well as connecting on a 32 yard FG as time expired to put the Johnnies ahead at half time.
Weber had a couple of circus catches in the 4th quarter to really get the sea of red off their seats and onto their feet to give the Johnnies the emotional energy needed to preserve the victory.
This long catch by Weber set up the game-winning TD
With four MIAC games remaining, the Johnnies need to remain focused and not worry about any potential play off match-up for November. There is a lot of football to play this season and anything can happen. With come from behind victories in the past two weeks, the Johnnies have shown that a little adversity builds character as well as showing them that they can perform under pressure.
