Well, here we are: Homecoming. After a really rough last week, the Johnnies — and our prognosticators — look to rebound this week. Will the team come out firing like several of these predictions certainly will? Or will the hangover get the best of both? Let’s find out.
DuffMan: After a lackluster game last week, I am banking on the Johnnies turning things around this weekend. I see the offense coming out to prove themselves. Gustavus looked weak last year, and they lost a veteran QB. Their running game looks non-existent, and beating the Johnnies with a one-dimensional attack is tough. Chad Arlt is their main weapon, but even he was relatively silent in last years slaughtering. I don’t see the defense giving up more than seven points. The offense will pull things together and get on the board early and often. St. John’s 35, Gustavus 7.
DustySJU: Anyone watching last week’s game knows the St. John’s defense played well enough to stop the very average Cobber offense. After an opening series drive for Concordia which lead to their only touchdown, the Johnnie defenders clamped down on multi-sport running back Cory Johnson. The three remaining quarters were a painful series of Johnnie quarterback substitutions and stalled out offensive drives. Indicators are we’re in for the same drama today. An undermanned and smallish Gustavus lineup will give Johnnie offenders plenty of chance to score. St. John’s 20, Gustavus 10.
finsleft: Yes, I did predict a Johnnie victory last week, but at least I had the sense to hedge my bet. I said SJU would win IF the defensive secondary and the offensive line performed as well as they did against UWRF, and IF SJU continued the trend of decent ground gains with some straight-ahead rushing. Silly me — the defense gave me only one leg for my three-legged stool, and I fell flat on my ass. I hope the coaching staff was at least as embarassed as I was, and we’ll see some improvments in play, players and play-calling against Gustavus. No worries about the defense, but IF the offense improves as aforementioned, SJU should pull out a much-needed homecoming victory. St. John’s 21, Gustavus 3.
Johnnie Tats: I see the 2008 Johnnie Homecoming game vs. the undefeated Gusties as (believe it or not) a MUST win for the Johnnies. We are pretty much up against the proverbial wall with one conference loss already. In addition, the Johnnies have given all of the other teams in the conference the idea that they can come to Collegeville and win on the turf of Clemens Stadium! This is simply appalling to all in the Johnnie Nation! Also appalling was the offensive “show” during last week’s tilt with the Cobbers. 6 points from a Johnnie Offense is inexcusable. The offense has got to stabilize and this can be done by picking a QB (hey, put the 4th string kid in now!) and sticking with him. Stability at QB followed by some adequate line play will hopefully allow the Johnnies to get (close) to the 30 point mark while the Defense (which has become the saving grace unit of the 2008 season) shuts down the Gusties. St. John’s 28, Gustavus 12.
JohnnieEsq: Ordinarily I would be concerned when playing a team that is undefeated. However, given that it is Homecoming in Collegeville, the Jays are coming off a less-than-stellar offensive performance last week, the Gustavus defense is yielding a league high of 334 total yards per game (given up to not-traditionally-offensive-juggarnauts Coe and Hamline) means that I expect the Johnnies to blow right past the Golden Gusties. This is a game that we can lose but should win, and I think my score reflects that: St. John’s 42, Gustavus 7.
Mr.Shoes: Short and sweet: The Johnnies rebound from last week’s mess and put up an offensive show that’s worthy of the solid defense that hasn’t taken a game off. Yup, it’s that simple. St. John’s 41, Gustavus 13.
sjusection105: After their heartbreaking loss to the Cobbers I can see where the Johnnies could be down in the dumps and be susceptible to an upset by the Gusties this weekend. This scenario will not play out. Instead, I see the Johnnies coming out crisp and focused on offense and just plain dominate on the defensive side of the ball to the delight of the Homecoming crowd. The Johnnie QB situation should work itself out by the conclusion of the game. The offense will still have some fine tuning to work on, so don’t look for a point a minute from this squad. St. John’s 28, Gustavus 0.
Touchdown Tommy: The 2008 Johnnies have looked very ordinary. A month into the season and there are still way too many unknown quantities. The roller coaster continues (Down vs. ETBU, Up vs. UWRF, Down vs. Con) this week as the Gusties are just what the doctor ordered. They are the sacrificial lamb who get to face an angry SJU squad on their Homecoming. The snowball gets rolling downhill early and absolutely steamrolls Gustavus. St. John’s 67, Gustavus 7.
