Making the NCAA tournament is an expected conclusion to the regular season for the Johnnie football squad, but with the 2009 season came a number of key injuries through out the season making the 2009 post season even more special.
The Johnnies took on the Carleton Knights in the season finale and prevailed 41-14 in a game that saw a little bit of everything. The Johnnies were playing without starting QB Joe Boyle, Starting RB Jakob Reding and starting MLB Ryan Wimmer, but their back ups played well.
Billy Lawrence stepped in for Wimmer and he had 2 interceptions and 3 tackles. During the return of the second interception Billy appeared to be channeling J.C. Watts, the great Oklahoma Sooner QB of the late 1970’s who ran the option offense to perfection. After Lawrence made the interception he saw he was about to get tackled, as he was in the grasp of two Carleton defenders he pitched the ball to Nate Anderson who took the ball to the end zone for the first score of the game with 2:44 remaining in the 1st quarter. The Russell Gliadon PAT made the score SJU7-Carleton 0
After Carleton scored early in the 2nd quarter, the Johnnies Stephen Johnson scored from 2 yards out with 7:51 remaining in the 2nd quarter. The half time score was SJU 14-Carleton 7 after another successful PAT by Gliadon.
At half time the Johnnie coaching staff made some nice adjustments and put in a new “triangle” formation to create space for the outside running game. Greg Sowden played an instrumental role in the success of this scheme. Sowden, who was projected to play left offensive guard this season, is back from early season injuries and really is a sixth offensive lineman in this type of a running formation. When the coaching staff put in this package, I’m sure they thought only of the blocking ability Sowden brought to the table. What the team also inherited was a precise route running, sure handed, pass catching tight end as Sowden showed off his skills in the pass catching game later in the contest. After running the ball exclusively to the left side and seeing Stephen Johnson make nice gains each time, QB John Ries found Josh Overman open on the right side for a 21-yard TD pass on this opening drive of the 3rd quarter.Gliadon again made the PAT for a 21-7 SJU lead.
Ethan Eid had missed several games early in the season recuperating from a groin as well as a shoulder injury. Being held together with duct tape and baling twine, Eid has returned to action and is in fine form. At the 7:02 mark of the 3rd quarter, Eid stepped in front of a Carleton pass and bumbled, rumbled and stumbled 59 yards for the second SJU defensive TD of the afternoon. Followed by another Gliadon PAT the score was 28-7 in favor of the Johnnies.
The 4th quarter saw Carleton score again and the Johnnies scoring twice more. The second running TD by Stephen Johnson, as his star continues to rise for the Johnnies heading into the play offs, was from 2 yards out with 6:20 remaining in the game. Again, Gliadon made the PAT.
Scott Ramey scored the final TD of the day with 1:33 remaining in the contest on a QB keeper. The PAT was wide to the right making the final score SJU 41- Carleton 14.
The leading tackler for the Johnnies again was John Stanton with 11 tackles. Andrew Pierskalla had 4 tackles and 2 sacks. Noel Meyer also had a sack and Griffin Hayes had a fumble recovery to highlight the defensive statistics beyond what was mentioned earlier with Lawrence, Anderson and Eid.
The offensive statistical leaders were John Ries who was 9 of 16 passing for 119 yards with 1 TD and no interceptions. Stephen Johnson has 128 yards on 26 carries and 2 rushing TDs.
The passing game saw Josh Overman with 3 catches for 73 yards and a TD. Kellen Blaser caught 2 balls for 22 yards.
The play offs begin next Saturday November 21. At the time of this writing it is not known where the Johnnies will play and who their opponent will be. With an undefeated record and being ranked in the top four teams in the nation over the past several weeks, conventional wisdom says the Johnnies should have their first round game at home., but as goes the saying “time will tell”.
If you are an early morning reader of this column, don’t forget to check back on JohnnieFootball.com later today as our panel will discus the Johnnies first round opponent and the Road to Salem.
