Well fans, after last week’s bye, there are only two games left and the MIAC is as tight a race as it’s ever been. Simply put, the Johnnies need to win both and let everything else take care of itself. That’s it: just Augsburg this week and Carleton next — but most importantly, Augsburg this week.
At the start of the season, it looked like Augsburg’s high-flying offense would lead them to the top of the conference. The yards and the scores have come as expected, but the results have been disappointing. Can the Auggies dash what’s left of St. John’s playoff hopes or can the Johnnies keep the dream alive one more week? Let’s find out…
DuffMan: The Auggies look tough this year, but they’ve come into Collegeville on hot streaks before just to have their hopes dashed in a flurry of TD passes. While the Johnnies of 2008 have not shown the quick-strike ability that has doomed many MIAC foes, I still like their chances against Augsburg. With this past week off to heal, the Johnnies will come in at or near full strength. I think it will be a close game, but the Johnnies will prevail. St. John’s 28, Augsburg 24.
DustySJU: Folks around Johnnie football have taken a cautionary approach to this year’s team and the prospect for any kind of playoff run. Yet here we reside in Week 9 with the opportunity to at least grab a piece of the MIAC championship. The Johnnies have an extra week of rest today, home field advantage and are at near full strength. Expect lots of Joe Boyle ankles, knees, elbows and dives as he muscles his way around a slippery field. Don’t be surprised if you also see backup QB Jordan Hansel taking direct snaps and running the ball. The key match up today is the stout Johnnie defense versus the potent Auggie arena pass offense. St. John’s 26, Augsburg 22.
Johnnie Tats: This could quite possibly be the final home game for the 2008 edition of the Johnnies. The team has had a week off to rest up and get over some of their bumps and bruises. Starting quarterback Joe Boyle has had an extra week to work with the first team so we should see a more cohesive and comfortable offensive display against the Auggies. The always stalwart Johnnie defense will see John Stanton (#13) step in at the starting defensive end position and his speed and reach will be valuable against the Auggies. The final home game for the seniors, the knowledge of what needs to be done so that post season in not in question, cold and snow flurries, Johnnie Football at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville… an equation for a Johnnie victory. St. John’s 27, Augsburg 9.
Mr.Shoes: We’re not losing to ****ing Augsburg. St. John’s 20, Augsburg 18.
(You thought I would give this up after the bye?)
SjuSection105: The Auggies could pose a challenge for the Johnnies with QB Jordan Berg being the best QB in the MIAC,in my opinion, and Royce Winford being a scary playmaker at WR. Rounding off the offense for the Auggies is the tough running Jason Potts.
The Johnnies defense will prove too much for the Three Musketeers of Augsburg. The question is, can the Johnnie offense outscore the Auggies? I feel good about the Johnnie O-line making a statement and allowing the ground game to eat some clock. If the weather forecast holds true, there may not be a lot of stretching the field with long range passes today. St. John’s 21, Augsburg 14.
Touchdown Tommy: This week’s game pits the best MIAC offense (Augsburg) versus the best MIAC defense (St. John’s). Something has to give. I don’t especially have a lot of confidence in the Johnnie offense to put up big numbers on the scoreboard. I also don’t believe that the prolific Augsburg passing attack will be able to put up huge points against the always stout SJU Defense. This should be a great football game and, very possibly, the last one in Collegeville this season. Augsburg is coming off a big win over St. Thomas and the Johnnies have had two weeks to prepare for the vaunted Auggie offense. I see a squeaker until the end, possibly another overtime extravaganza. St. John’s 23, Augsburg 21.
TC: The weather is going to give the St. John’s offense more trouble than the Auggies will this weekend. The teams that St. John’s struggles against offensively are those that can exploit their biggest weakness—the offensive line. As you might expect of a team that has allowed 325 and 354 rushing yards the past two weeks, the defensive line isn’t Augsburg’s strongest unit.
The Auggies’ offense is predicated on turning short passes into big yardage. Two things that might make that difficult are a speedy defense and poor weather, and both will be abundant in Collegeville on Saturday. If Augsburg thinks they’re going to go 80 yards in 16 plays without making any costly mistakes they’re sorely mistaken.
I think this game will be a lot like the SJU/UW-River Falls game earlier this year—St. John’s dominated play, but due to bad weather and a consistent but necessarily conservative offense the scoreboard didn’t reflect how well the Johnnies played. St. John’s 21, Augsburg 6.
