For the 30th time in school history the Johnnies are the champions of the MIAC by defeating the Carleton Knights yesterday in Northfield by a score of 14-10. Winning the MIAC championship also gives the Johnnies an automatic qualifier in the NCAA Division III play off bracket. The NCAA will announce the play off pairings about 2:30PM today. The JohnnieFootball.com staff will be having a segment to discuss the Johnnie’s play off opponent later today.
There is an old saying in football that defense wins championships and the Johnnie defense was a major factor in winning the 2008 MIAC crown. The Johnnie offense had the weight of the Johnnie Nation on their shoulders as they took the ball on their own 38-yard line with 50 seconds to play trailing Carleton 10-7. The final drive was perfect as the Johnnies connected on 5 consecutive pass plays, the final two being modifications of earlier plays, to score the go ahead TD with 16 seconds remaining and to seal the win and the championship for the Johnnies.
After a scoreless 1st Qtr. the Johnnies got on the board first after a fumble recovery by DT Noel Meyer. The Johnnies then moved the ball 67 yards in 7 plays capped off by a 7-yard run by QB Joe Boyle to take the lead 7-0. This would be the score going into halftime.
The 3rd Qtr. had the Knights connecting on a 42-yard field goal to make the score 7-3. The fireworks began in the 4th Qtr. as Carleton moved the ball 84 yards in 16 plays consuming 4 minutes 47 seconds to take the lead 10-7. The Knights cheering section erupted, as it appeared their 25 game losing streak to the Johnnies would finally be over along with their first conference title since 1992. Instead, the Johnnie cheering section and bench went wild as Joe Boyle connected with Jeff Schnobrich streaking down the right sideline for a 22-yard TD with 16 seconds remaining. The Knights put up a good fight, but in the end there was just too much Johnnie Magic to overcome.
If any Johnnie fans that did not attend this game feels that for some reason Carleton was a “flash in the pan” this season, you are sorely mistaken. Kurt Ramler is putting the Knights in a position to be MIAC contenders for years to come.
Nick Kotsmith and Ethan Eid were the leading tacklers for the Johnnies with 10 tackles each followed closely by John Stanton and Ryan Wimmer with 8 each. Jeff Bohlman, Noel Meyer and Michael Schumacher each were in on QB sacks. Eid had an interception for the Johnnies.
Joe Boyle was 18 for 33 passing with 2 interceptions and 1 TD pass. Boyle also had 15 yards on the ground including a TD run in the 2nd Qtr.
Jeff Schnobrich led the Johnnie ground game with 9 runs for 46 yards.
Schnobrich also led the Johnnies in yards receiving with 9 catches for 134 yards. Jakob Redding had 5 catches for 59 yards.
Now we wait to see who the Johnnies play in the first round of the play offs and ask the question that has the Johnnie Nation on pins and needles…. how much Johnnie Magic remains in 2008?
