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

Not sure about all of you in the Nation but this is exactly what I am going through as we make our way though the final week of Johnnie Football and look to take out a LOT of frustration when the boys make the trip down to St. Paul and visit the Pipers of Hamline this Saturday. I am asking myself now what because it is going to be a very long off-season in my household that is for damn sure. But hey, at least once the calendar turns to the new year my wife( yes the one my Dad refers to as the Woman you live with….see the Tommie article from 3 years ago and you will understand) allows me to begin the countdown for kick-off 2012 .

I mean let’s be honest; Johnnie Football is simply a priceless experience for any and all who are lucky enough to be exposed to it. And regardless of the score or final record (yea I know this year has not been what we expected or wanted but again, support our current Johnnies without hesitation and in an all in manner or feel free to not consider yourself a true Johnnie) the entire experience of a Johnnie Football Saturday cannot be matched anywhere on the Planet. I would never trade any of the Johnnie Football Saturdays that I have been lucky enough to experience, if you would then you are neither a true Johnnie nor a true member of the Nation that is unrivaled.

From the countdown we all live through each week, to the stocking up of “supplies” for the Tailgate, to the actual tailgate event, to the current Johnnies who get “IT” stopping by, to the pre-game warm-ups, to the announcement “Here come the Johnnies” and to the gathering on the turf of the Natural bowl to mingle with players, families, and friends after another Johnnie Victory, the whole game day experience is simply heaven for me and I assume all in the Nation. I think you all would agree with me that all of this is proof that God is indeed a Johnnie because why else would Johnnie Football Saturdays be just so perfect and precious? And if Johnnie football Saturday’s are not proof enough feel free to find Fr. Don at the next Game, he will verify that God is a Johnnie since he gave him a B in Theology class!

So this Saturday it is over. It will be many months before many of us get to see each other, life events will take place, we will lose our great Johnnie Seniors like BIG and Lightening to graduation, and we will read about some very smart High School Seniors making the best damn decision of their ever so young lives, (feel free to ask our young LB’s Thompson and Rose, they will concur on this point for sure) the decision to become Johnnies come Fall of 2012!

As we close out the 2011 Season let’s be sure to be all in on Saturday, the boys deserve it for God’s sakes. Find a few of the current Johnnies after the game and maybe thank them for representing SJU and those of us who have gone before them with such pride, honor and dignity, in what anyone would call a challenging year. Personally I thank all of the great Johnnie parents who come to the Tailgate, take a look at these ramblings on our site, and of course have given us some fine young men who get “IT”! To these fine young Johnnies like: BIG, Lightening, The Minister of Defense, The Mad Stork, KONG, The Tuna, GQ and Rain man, I say that we in the Nation do consider you our owns sons, and we are damn proud of you. Keep it up.

Time to Johnnie up for the final time here in 2011. See ya at Gabe’s before we head over to Hamline, and then…well Hell, NOW WHAT!

Our own bit of misery as Johnnie Football fans is minimal when compared to the multitude of troubles plaguing major college athletics.  When St. John’s deviates from its traditional place as MIAC football champions our fall world appears rightfully out of place. Despite our anguish we can all be thankful our complaints can be limited to a soon to be 6 – 4 football season.
 
To send this year’s season off and to begin the hot-stove conversation for a revived 2012 Johnnie Football team, we invite all of you to Gabe’s By the Park this Saturday for a Johnnie vs Hamline Piper pregame primer.  Located at 991 North Lexington Parkway in St. Paul, Gabe’s www.gabesmn.com is as Bob Wicker indicates, “… a long chip shot from the Hamline football field”.
 
Doors open at 9am however be prepared to load up on beer nuts as the grill won’t be ready until 11am.  Bob expects most guests to show up about then.  And until then…
 
 
 
JohnnieUp Everybody!

The Johnnies got onto the board midway through the 2nd Qtr. on a 31 yard FG by Jimmie Mattson. Mattson has displayed his leg strength this season by tying a school record with a 52 yard FG earlier this season, and kicking this 31 yard score into a strong south wind showed his leg strength and accuracy once again.

Jimmie Mattson, Jr. Kicker

The Johnnies scored again shortly before halftime as QB Ben Krebsbach,in the game  after starter Connor Bruns had a rough beginning,threw a 31 yard scoring pass to Wade Powers in the end zone. The ball hung in the air,throwing into the strong wind,and Powers out muscled the defender for the reception.The Johnnies go into halftime trailing 17-10.

After the early scores by St. Olaf,two of which were on short field caused by SJU turnovers, the Johnnie defense really came together as a unit and played a very tenacious swarming style of defense, wrapping up star Ole RB Leon Clark with as many as five SJU defenders. Taylor Dammermann was the leading tackler for the Johnnies. Jake King,Joe Donner and Nick Zweber were credited with QB sacks and Bobby Fischer had an interception.

Taylor Dammermann Jr. LB

The Johnnies came out of halftime and the Stephen Johnson show really took center stage. Johnson had scoring runs of 27 yards and 6 yards in the 3rd Qtr. highlighting his 38 carries for 196 net rushing yards on the afternoon. The Johnnies have,at this point, taken the lead 24-17 and have scored 24 unanswered points.

The Oles tie the score at 24-24 with 1:54 to play in the game and it appears that the game may be heading to overtime unless somehow the Johnnies can find something that has been missing for most of the season; that would be Johnnie Magic.

On what would be the second Ole punt handling miscue of the 4th Qtr,the Ole punt return man let the ball bounce off the turf and hit him in the leg, and into the waiting arms of Johnnie Special Teams player Blake Bellefeuille. The Johnnies were then on their way to the game winning FG.

Blake Bellefeuille Freshman LB

The Johnnies started the final drive from their own 43 yard-line. After a Krebsbach incompletion the coaching staff inserted Bruns back into the game at QB. Bruns has the stronger arm and has been called on in situations throughout the season the run the “hurry up offense”. The Johnnies drove the ball to the Ole 8 yard line, and Mattson was brought in to attempt the game winning FG with 5 seconds remaining. Mattson came through and converted the kick.

The Oles had one more play after the ensuing kick off and 2.3 seconds on the clock. The horror  of the Augsburg finish at Homecoming was running through the minds of the Johnnie Faithful in the stands. As in the Homecoming game, a Johnnie defender narrowly missed sacking the QB and there was a desperation throw into the end zone. This time,however, the Johnnies prevail as the throw fell to the turf incomplete.

The Johnnies can end their season on a 4 game winning streak next week in St. Paul, if they remain focused and play like they are capable if playing finishing at 6-4. A record of 6-4 is disappointing to this team as well as missing the NCAA Division III play-off for a second consecutive year,but it sure will feel a lot better than a potential 5-5 record. The playing experience that younger players received this season should be valuable building blocks for years to come in Johnnie Football.

** Photos Courtesy of GoJohnnies.com

The 2011 Johnnie Football season has been surprisingly highlighted by lopsided losses, inconsistent offensive and defensive play as well as constant media references to the unhappy Johnnie fan base. 

The uncharacteristic nature of the 2011 season has even caught the attention of The Minneapolis StarTribune.  Wednesday’s above the fold story in the sports section was entitled ”Johnnies On The Spot” and chronicled not only the tradition Coach John Gagliardi has established on campus but also potential cures for a team desparately seeking to avoid it’s first losing season since the mid-60’s.

Saturday’s game against St. Olaf is a critical match for both teams as SJU attempts to continue it’s rise from embarassing losses to UST and Bethel while St. Olaf’s post season hopes hinge on it’s two remaining games.  The Ole game on Saturday presents a critical opportunity for the Johnnies to regain their birthright as the rightful owners of MIAC football. 

In their game against Carleton last weekend the Johnnie offense returned to a big play passing attack with QB Conner Bruns powering the football through the air with acrobatic catches from his receiver corps.  The aggressive and well executed passing attack harkened back to a more glorious time in Johnnie Football and could well be the formula for a victory this weekend. 

A return to small college prominence and post season play are the pursuits for every Johnnie Football team and the expectations for every serious Johnnie Football fan.  The alure of small college football in the cool fall air of Collegeville is the fuel by which hard core Johnnie fans feed their addiction.  Combined with the familiar translucent sky witnessed only during the Minnesota autumn,  Johnnie playoff dramas are the essence and spirit by which Johnnie fans live and so desparately seek.

Despite the early season spankings and depressing results, Saturday’s game is a golden opportunity for the Johnnie football season to continue it’s two game winning streak and beat a team in search of only it’s second post season appearance – ever!

Believe it, Saturday counts.

And while we have the Minister of Defense and King Kong behind the Stork while the Johnnie “D” is out on the Field it goes without saying that the Mad Stork is our first and best line of defense for each play on every Johnnie Football Saturday. This is a Johnnie who has come to Collegeville and embraced all that being a Johnnie means and requires, and when one is a D lineman there are even greater expectations to live up to as the Johnnie D-Line is indeed unrivaled. But the Stork has lived up to all expectations and then some!

Each week our own Stork tends to his position on the line of scrimmage as if he is tending to a flower garden during the summer. He is very possessive of his plot of turf and does not take kindly to opponents coming into his garden and trampling all over his turf( especially when the game is being played on the Turf of the Natural Bowl). So as the other MIAC offensive players make their way to the Stork’s parcel of very protected turf he warmly welcomes them with a fierce tackle, maybe some hair maintenance advice, and a well versed History lesson, well is MAD you know, and to this end he is a double major in English and History. And at times he likes to not wait for the offensive player to reach his plot of defended land, so he simply meets them on their side of the ball, as he did many times last week against our future head coach and his Knights.

In addition to his play on the Turf our own Stork is one who fully understands, appreciates and embraces all that “IT” is and means. Each and every week after the game is finished you can find him either taking pictures with any and all who approach him, speaking to youngsters who’s dream it is to be a Johnnie Football Player or simply thanking those Alumni who have come to the Holy Land to support him and the rest of our Johnnie squad. In my opinion the Stork is demonstrating the textbook attributes of being a Johnnie, character and honor.

So why not take a moment this week and find the Mad Stork after the game and thank him for not only getting “IT”, but living “IT”, and proving that being MAD is actually a good “thing”, especially when it comes to guarding the defensive line of scrimmage each and every Saturday.

So will you please join me in thanking Todd and Jenny Grill for not only sending us Connor, but more importantly giving us and the Johnnie D-Line The Mad Stork!

Stork, we are very pleased and proud to call you a fellow Johnnie. We look forward to a great final two games of the 2011 campaign and are very happy we get to see you patrolling the Turf again net year for us!

The Oles are rolling into Collegeville and they are looking to make us sing a sad song! Is the Nation all in and ready to Johnnie up as we get to support our boys for the final time in 2011 at home? Don’t make me tell the Stork that you are not! See ya at the Tailgate.

The Johnnie offense struggled in their opening possession, going 3 and out, but made adjustments after that point to put up their highest point and yardage production for the season. Likewise, the Johnnie defense gave up a 10 play 65 yard scoring drive in their opening stand and then did not allow another TD until late in the game while a host of reserve players were seeing playing time.

Connor Bruns started the game at QB for SJU and looked very confident while going 10 for 16 for 242 yards with 2 TD passes. Bruns also ran for a score. The first half saw 4 catchable balls dropped by SJU receivers,otherwise Bruns’ numbers would have been more impressive. The biggest change in the play at QB, that I could see from my vantage point in the stands, was the trust that Bruns had in his receivers to make plays. Brent Graboski  had a big day with 5 catches for 216 yards and 2 TDs. Graboski’s first TD was a 70 yard catch and run on a TE option pass from Wade Powers. The play, dubbed the Power Tower, used Powers ability to throw  a perfect pass, calling on his experience as a Jr. High QB in the  New London- Spicer school system, to a wide open Graboski whose defender had left him to go up into run support.

Wade Powers Jr. TE

Connor Bruns Soph. QB

Brent Graboski Sr. WR

Stephen Johnson had a TD on a 31 yard run in the 1st half. Sam Pederson caught an 18 yard TD pass from John Ries late in the 3rd Qtr. as Ries came into the game in relief of Bruns. Jimmie Mattson connected on FGs of 29 and 33 yards in the 1st half.

The Johnnie defense held Carleton RB Jon Lein to 85 yards on 19 carries after his record breaking 259 yard performance and MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors last week.

The Johnnie defense was led by  Ian Goldsmith and Andrew Rose with 7 tackles each. Connor Grill,Evan Cobb and Maze Thompson each had a QB sack.Taylor Dammermann forced a fumble and Paul Plombon had a fumble recover. As a unit, the Johnnie defense held Carleton to 207 net rushing yards and 79 net passing yards.

The Johnnies have a big test next week as the Oles of St. Olaf College come to Collegeville. The Oles are ranked in the NCAA  Division III Top 20 and have aspirations of a spot in the play-offs if they can finish their season with a lone blemish on their record as a loss to St. Thomas early in the season. The Johnnies are playing the style of football they are capable of playing,with two consecutive wins, and can keep the momentum rolling to close out the season and play spoiler to the Oles. Closing the season with a 4 game winning streak will launch the Johnnies with confidence going into the offseason,with their toughest test in that stretch of games being St. Olaf. It’s time to “Johnnie Up” everybody!

* Photos are courtesy of GoJohnnies.com

With an opportunity to put a bit of a winning streak together beginning Saturday The Johnnie Football team should be “all-in” for an “all-out” effort versus The Carls.

With former Johnnie strong man Kurt Ramler at the helm for Carleton could tomorrow’s tilt be a glimpse into the Collegeville crystal ball of what might become?

Greek tragedy or not , the Johnnie Football team has plenty of reason to come out fired up and show the home town fans their first winning effort since the season’s opening game vs Northwestern.

Speaking of our UMAC friends from Roseville, what would a Johnnie versus Scholastica match look like?  If you haven’t been paying attention UMAC member St. Scholastica will be making the DIII playoffs this fall in only their 4th season of play.  Time to drop the Evangelicals and add the Catholics. Nice job Saints!

And if you’re planning on pregaming tomorrow you’re invited to commune on the tarmac above the south endzone however JohnnieRed & Veek won’t be grilling up any tasty treats.  Bring a box of donuts to share or if you’re really in the giving mood haul up your grill and feed the masses. 

It’s the Benedictine way.

JohnnieUp Everybody!

But how one approaches this ever so violent yet passion filled game is also a very key ingredient in my mind. And when on the Defensive side of the line of Scrimmage the attitude and desire to not allow the other side to impose its will is what IT is all about.

Passion, attitude, emotion, the desire to NOT have another’s will imposed on him and the love of the Game…..these are not words that describe just any football player, rather they perfectly describe one of our own, yup I am speaking about current Johnnie Defensive stalwart Jake King, going 6’1 and 230 while sporting #47, or as we like to call him….KONG!

Why is Kong the emotional leader of the Johnnie “D”? Maybe it is because Kong did not start his collegiate career at SJU, rather he chose to attend another school for a year, and once he had the time to reflect he re-thought his choice he realized that there is NOTHING like being a Johnnie, therefore he got his hard hitting rear-end to the 56321 where he has undoubtedly shown that he gets “IT”, both on and off the turf of the Natural Bowl.

Heck even by his weekly 10am (or so) visit to the Tailgate he seems ready to it some one, and I would assume if the Natural Bowl was not available he would line up out on the asphalt of I-94 to proudly represent SJU! This is the attitude and emotion that needs to be the “M.O.” of each and every Johnnie, every member of the coaching staff, and the Nation that is unrivaled as we look to run the table on the remaining 3 games of the 2011 season.

Be all in, be passionate, be emotional, be there and be in support of our fellow Johnnies ….or be all out…..that is the policy, end of discussion! Don’t make me ask KONG to pay you a visit at your office!(Well he is an accounting major so maybe you could have him help out a bit, but God forbid the spreadsheet does not balance!)

So let’s all take a moment and realize that we indeed can learn a thing or two from one of our younger Johnnies. Let’s all be as passionate, and emotionally invested in the remaining Johnnie Football Saturdays just like Kong is. To John King and Gayle Januschka, the Nation that is unrivaled thanks you for sending us not just Jake but our own KING KONG! We are damn proud to call him a Johnnie.

See everyone at the “Ville on Saturday where we will all see what a talented Offensive mind can do (unlike our current Offensive coordinator, who defines incompetence in any language) as we welcome our future head Coach Kurt Ramler and his Knights of Carleton.

GAC took the opening kickoff and marched 51 yards in 9 plays and took a 3-0 lead on a 27 yard FG. On the  ensuing kickoff, GAC used the element of surprise and pooch-kicked,which was miss handled by the Johnnies and the Gusties recovered on the SJU 44 yard line. The Gusties scored on a 1 yard run 7 plays later. The PAT was no good and the Gusties lead was 9-0.

The Johnnies got on the board as Kicker Jimmie Mattson, paying tribute to his grandmother by wearing bright pink shoelaces, hit a 52-yard FG with 3 seconds remaining in the 1st. Qtr. The FG tied a school record and set at stadium record for Hollingsworth Field, which was opened in 2007.

Jimmie Mattson Jr. Kicker

The Johnnies took the lead at the 11:51 mark of the 2nd Qtr. on a 3 yard run by QB Ben Kresbach. The TD was set up by an interception by Bobby Fischer. The Johnnies increased their lead to 17-9 with 46 seconds remaining in the half on a 45-yard TD pass from Connor Bruns to Sam Pederson. All three QBs played for SJU in the 2nd half as John Ries led the Johnnies on their final TD drive of the day in the 4th Qtr. as GAC had narrowed the margin,at that point to 17-16. For the day, each QB brought something different to the game, Krebsbach has the  ability to run effectively, Bruns has a strong arm and Ries has game management skills. If the Johnnies coaching staff could somehow morph these attributes together they would have former Johnnie QB  Kurt Ramler, but that is not possible so they are doing the next best thing by inserting players into situations to allow the team to win. This is not an ideal situation but it did work against GAC. With 3 games remaining in the season,who knows what the game plan will call for from this point forward.

Then Johnnie defense obviously took the bye week to work on an overall change of focus and it showed on the field against GAC. The team recorded 5 sacks, 2 by Connor Grill. There were Johnnie defenders in the GAC backfield all day,recording 12 tackles for loss. Bobby Fischer recorded 2 interceptions and Joe Donner had a fumble recovery.

Bobby Fischer Jr. DB

This was a win the Johnnies desperately needed and one that took a team effort to achieve. With three games remaining in the 2011 season, the Johnnies have pride and tradition to play for. Two of the remaining games are at home but one is against a team, St. Olaf, currently ranked in the NCAA Division III Top 25. With a legendary coach rotating QB, RBs and offensive linemen coupled with a defense that is finally playing as a unit along with some Johnnie Magic, I like the Johnnie’s chances the rest of the way.