The Johnnies traveled to Hamline University,in St. Paul ,to put the finishing touches on the 2011 season with a 61-0 victory over the Pipers.
The game started slow for the Johnnies, who scored only one TD and held a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. Things heated up in the second quarter as the Johnnies went back to passing plays that narrowly missed connecting in the first quarter that were successful in the second quarter. The Johnnies went into halftime leading 41-0.
Special teams performed well, forcing a couple of fumbles on back to back kick-offs giving the Johnnies short field situations in the second quarter.
Defensively the Johnnies played a nearly mistake free game, highlighted by 3 interceptions by Bobby Fischer.
Bobby Fischer Jr. CB
Maze Thompson had 6 tackles,including 2 QB sacks. Andrew Rose added 5 tackles. Jake King had 5 tackles, including a QB sack. Lukas Inveiss and Andrew Rotschafer forced fumbles for the Johnnies. Paul Plombon, Jack Daggett and James Obler also had QB sacks.Nolan Lortz also recorded a pass interception for the Johnnies. As a team the Johnnie defense held Hamline to 8 1st downs, 22 net rushing yards and a total of 111 yards of offense for the day.
The offensive explosion was something the Johnnies had been looking for all season. To end the season on a high note,albeit to a winless team,has to give the Johnnies confidence going into the off season. Acknowledging the shortcomings of this team in early season games and working around them to end the season on a 4 game winning streak is a credit to the players and the coaching staff.
Connor Bruns was again the starting QB for the Johnnies and he made some adjustments in the second quarter of pass plays that were just off the mark in the first quarter leading to two TD passes as well as running for two scores in the second quarter. Harry Awe also threw an option pass for a TD in the second quarter. Awe was 3 for 3 on pass attempts for the season,all for TDs.
The scoring recap for the day is as follows; Bruns was 11 for 20 for 183 yards passing and 3 TDs with 0 interceptions. John Ries 6 for 9 for 58 yards and a TD with 0 interceptions. Bruns had TD runs of 2 and 12 yards. Other Johnnie rushing TDs were scored by Jake Essler of 1 yard and Colin Moynihan of 4 yards;both were scored in the 4th quarter. Receiving TDs for the Johnnies were caught by Taylor Freetlly of 20 and 25 yards,both thrown by Bruns. Brent Graboski caught the 4 yard TD pass thrown by Awe. Wade Powers also caught a 25 yard TD pass thrown by Bruns. In the third quarter Harry Awe caught an 11 yard TD pass from Ries. Jimmie Mattson was 7 of 8 on PAT attempts. One snap was mishandled and a running try for a point after was attempted,but was unsuccessful.
Once again the Johnnies will not be participating in the NCAA Division III Play-offs,the first back to back seasons that the team has not made the field since the 1983-1984 seasons. The 6-4 record is the worst finish since the 1997 season. The Johnnies have tremendous opportunities next season and beyond as many young players were given opportunities to play this year and responded well. Followers of Johnnie football will remember that MIAC Championships and NCAA Division III Play-off appearances came after these previous blips on the radar screen. With the hard work and dedication by the players and coaching staff in the offseason I like the Johnnies chances in 2012 and beyond.
***Photo courtesy of GoJohnnies.com
