MIAC Championship Game When Pigs Fly
If I would have asked the typical Johnnie fan on October 4, after a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Bethel Royals, if the Johnnies would be playing their final MIAC game of the season on November 15 to determine the conference championship I would have received an answer something to the effect of “when pigs fly”. If I would have qualified the question even further by asking about the Johnnies opponent next week, the Carleton College Knights, having a home game in the season finale to determine the MIAC crown the “when pigs fly” answer would have been in the mix of popular responses. The 2008 version of the MIAC season has been one filled with twists and turns but as we enter the final week of the season the picture can’t be any clearer. Perennial MIAC conference contender St. Johns, and MIAC upstart Carleton, who are led by Head Coach Kurt Ramler, will square off in Northfield next week for the MIAC Title.
Yesterday the Knights went to Moorhead and defeated Concordia by a score of 41-28 and SJU did just enough to keep the MIAC best offense of Augsburg in check by a score of 28-21 to set up the championship game. Both teams are in a situation that all championship teams ask to be in, controlling their own destiny with an automatic play-off berth and a conference crown at stake.
Once again the Johnnie defense led the way by effectively controlling the dangerous Augsburg offense. Although the Johnnies didn’t shut down Air Augsburg the bye-week was certainly well used by the Johnnie coaching staff to put together a new look defense and much of the day implementing a 3-man rush and calling on hybrid defender John Stanton to play a vital role in controlling one of the top QB/WR combinations in the country. Stanton has played LB and DB in passing situations this season, but Saturday he started at the right side DE, yet dropped back in pass coverage on most plays to help the SJU secondary with the 4 and 5 receiver sets displayed by Augsburg.
Nick Kotsmith once again led the Johnnies with 8 tackles. Dominic Haik, Bobby Klint and Ethan Eid had 6 tackles each. Nate Anderson had 5 tackles on the day. Stanton and Derek Stifter each had an interception and both of these picks led to SJU scores. Kyle Schroeder was credited with two QB sacks and Mike Schumacher also notched a QB sack.
The Johnnie offense came out slow and found themselves trailing 7-0 at the end of the 1st quarter. The Johnnies got on the board at the 10:18 mark of the 2nd quarter as WR Brian Busack made a circus freak catch in the end zone on a Joe Boyle pass that hung in the wind. Because of the wind it appeared that the ball was going to be intercepted by the Augsburg defender, but Busack came up with one of the more unusual catches of the year and knotted the score 7-7. The teams went into half time with the score deadlocked.
Late in the 3rd quarter Joe Boyle let his legs do the talking, as he could not find an open receiver, so he reversed direction and ran from the right sideline to score at the left side of the end zone. The 4th quarter provided some more excitement as John Stanton and Derek Stifter intercepted Augsburg passes and Boyle’s running along with a Statue of Liberty play to RB Jeff Schnobrich resulted in two more Johnnie scores. After a late score by Augsburg and an unsuccessful onside kick, the Johnnies were able to run out the clock and seal a 28-21 victory.
Boyle finished the day 9 for 16 with 1 interception and 1 TD for a total of 101 yards. Boyle also racked up 47 rushing yard on 16 attempts with 2 TDs.
Jeff Schnobrich had 8 rushing attempts for 56 yards and a TD. Kellen Blaser was 12 for 42 yards and Jakob Reding was 9 for 24 yards.
Ben Vanderhyden led the receivers with 2 catches for 32 yards, Brett Saladin 2 catches for 29 yards and Brian Busack 2 catches for 23 yards and a TD.
The MIAC crown will be awarded next week in Northfield to one of two unlikely champions, unlikely because of all the twists and turns that have occurred during this season. So many scenarios had to play out for this match up to occur. John Gagliardi will meet his former QB and assistant coach Kurt Ramler in what could be the beginning of yet another wonderful rivalry series for years to come in the MIAC. You just never know, if you come to the game next Saturday you might get to see pigs fly!
