After having a field goal attempt deflected in the first half, to pushing the game tying PAT wide right with 1:47 remaining in the game, all looked lost for the Johnnie Footballers and the Homecoming crowd of 10,567 in attendance. The ensuing kick off to the Royals, with the Johnnies trailing 14-13, and a three and out forced by the determined Johnnie defense set the stage for a record breaking field goal for Gliadon with 8. 7 seconds remaining on the clock when the field goal team raced onto the field. The snap by Cody Socher, the hold by Andrew Gurbada, the protection by the field goal team and the leg strength and kicking technique of Russell Gliadon combined for a 49 yard (school record setting) game winning field goal with 2.8 seconds remaining on the game clock when the officials raised their arms toward the sky in the south end zone signaling “score”. Spontaneous celebration erupted from the stadium. The student section could not be contained as hundreds of students poured onto the field. This little celebration forced the officials to penalize the Johnnies 15 yards on the ensuing kick off. After an attempted, lateral intensive, return the Royals were finally corralled and the Homecoming victory secured for the Johnnies 16-14 over the Bethel Royals.
Video Courtesy of GoJohnnies.com/Russell Gliadon
The Johnnies trailed the entire game until the game winning FG by Gliadon. The Johnnies actually did not get on the score board until QB Joe Boyle scored with 9:25 remaining in the game on a 3 yard touchdown run. Senior RB, and one of the cover boys for the game day program,Kellen Blaser scored with 1:47 remaining in the game on a hard fought 4-yard run to bring the game to a 14-13. The forgone conclusion by many in the stands was that Gliadon would convert on the PAT, after all he was a perfect 17-17 on the season going into this attempt, and the two teams would slug it out in overtime. There were other forces at work and Gliadon pushed the PAT to the right of the uprights and Bethel,at this point, held the upper hand.
In a bizarre twist, what was he thinking, the Bethel return man took the kick and as he approached the 15-yard line covered the ball tightly and dropped to the ground, ending the play. Perhaps he was playing overly cautious and not wanting to risk a fumble in a collision,instead he went to the turf. I guess nobody but the return man will ever know the answer to that question. In retrospect it probably seemed to be a good strategy, after all, Bethel simply needed one first down in order to force the Johnnies to use all their remaining timeouts and to then simply watch as the clock ran to 0:00 and chalk up their 4th consecutive victory over the Johnnies.
As the Johnnies took the Bethel punt at their own 35 yard line, the sun began to peek out of the clouds in the western sky. As any good Johnnie fan knows, “the sun always shines on Johnnie Football” and so it would be on this Homecoming day 2009.
The defenses of both teams played well and forced numerous fumbles, interceptions and blocked or deflected kicks and punts.Ryan Wimmer led the Johnnies with 13 tackles. Kyle Schroeder and John Stanton each had 7 tackles as well as each forcing a fumble. Bobby Klint had 7 tackles and an interception. Dominic Haik had an interception. Noel Meyer and Dan Franta each recovered a fumble. Big Jack Daggett blocked a punt. I want to give special recognition this week to the defensive line who lost All-American Nick Gunderson during pre-game warm ups to an ongoing nagging knee injury, for which he is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday. The play of Kyle Schroeder, Noel Meyer, Griffin Hayes, Jeff Bohlman was elevated to the next level in what has been, to date, the toughest game of the season.
The Johnnie offense was held in check by a tough Bethel defense until the 4th quarter when SJU scored all their points. Joe Boyle was 13 of 27 passing for 150 yards,while throwing 3 interceptions and being sacked 4 times.
Rushing leaders for the Johnnies were Stephen Johnson with 19 attempts for 79 yards, Jakob Reding had 10 attempts for 41 yards and Kellen Blaser had 4 attemps for 34 yards and a TD. The 8.5 yard per carry average only tells part of the story for Blaser on the day, as the Senior from Austin put forth a tremendous effort in opening up holes for his fellow running backs.
Receiving leaders for the Johnnies were Ben Vanderheyden with 4 catches totaling 60 yards and Josh Overman also had 4 catches while tallying 58 yards.
Twenty years from now people will be talking about the dramatic come from behind 16-14 victory and the 49 yard record setting field goal by Gliadon for the victory over Bethel in the 2009 Homecoming game. Some will call it luck, some will call it Divine Intervention,some will call it hard work paying off. As for me, I will remember the sun that began to peek out from behind the clouds in the western sky and I will call it Johnnie Magic!
