SJU vs. Carleton - Homecoming 2023 - Johnnie Football

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REMARKABLY INCREDIBLY

Syverson

Today’s Matchup: Saint John’s outgained Concordia 606-256 in a 42-23 win last Saturday at Clemens Stadium. Senior quarterback Aaron Syverson broke three program records - 44 completions in 60 attempts for 498 passing yards - and threw for five touchdowns in the victory. The Johnnies’ defense forced two turnovers and totaled nine sacks, 12 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. Carleton remained unbeaten with a 33-31 home win over St. Olaf last Saturday. The Knights held leads of 13-0, 23-10 (halftime) and 30-17 (late in the third quarter), but needed a 30-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Marcus Merkelbach with 23 seconds remaining to earn the win. The Oles posted a 471-400 advantage in total offense. A week after Jack Curtis attempted 77 passes and finished with 370 yards and five touchdowns through the air in a 36-35 victory at Concordia-Moorhead, the sophomore quarterback finished 31 of 47 for 287 yards and three touchdowns against St. Olaf.

Series History: Today’s game is the 40th meeting between Saint John’s and Carleton. The Johnnies have won each of the previous 39 matchups, including a

19-0 record here in Collegeville. SJU has outscored the Knights 1,687-355 (43.39.1 avg.) in the series, including a 403-39 advantage and four shutouts in the last eight meetings.

SJU’s Homecoming History: The Johnnies are 71-20-2 (.774) in 93 known Homecoming games dating back to 1925, including a 3-0 record against Carleton. SJU has won 31 of its last 36 Homecoming games.

Record-Breaking Day: Syverson’s passing totals last Saturday - 44 completions, 60 attempts and 498 yardsshattered Johnnies’ single-record records. The previous marks were 34 completions (Ryan Keating ‘03 vs. UW-Eau Claire on Sept. 2003), 57 attempts (Alex Kofoed ‘07 at Central, Iowa, on Nov. 24, 2007) and 496 yards (Jackson Erdmann ‘19 at St. Olaf on Oct. 26, 2019). The performance enabled Syverson to pass Keating for fourth in career passing yards (6,743) and fifth in passing touchdowns (71) on SJU’s all-time lists.

Corn-Fed Quarterback: Syverson now has a 196.92 pass-efficiency rating and .732 completion percentage – 82 of 112 passing for 1,147 yards and 14 touchdowns (to two interceptions) – in three career games against the Cobbers.

Three With 100+ Receiving Yards: Junior wide receiver Marselio Mendez caught four of Syverson’s passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns last weekend, while three others gained over 100 receiving yards. Senior wide receiver Nick VanErp led the way with 147 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions, senior tight end Alex Larson caught a career-high 13 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown and sophomore wideout Dylan Wheeler totaled career highs with 10 catches for 109 yards. The last time three Johnnies recorded over 100 receiving yards in a game occurred Nov. 30, 2019, in SJU’s 55-26 win at Chapman (Calif.) in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs: T.J. Hodge (nine catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns), Ravi Alston ‘22 (seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown) and Henry Trost ‘22 (three catches for 103 yards and a touchdown).

9 Sacks: Junior defensive tackle Zach Frank led SJU with three of the team’s nine sacks against Concordia, and junior linebacker Jake Schwinghammer had two. The nine sacks were the most for the Johnnies since they recorded nine in a 27-7 win at St. Thomas on Oct. 28, 2006.

VanErp

SJU Tackles Cancer

Gary Fasching knows first-hand the toll cancer can take on families.

The Saint John’s University head coach’s sister Rita died at 56 in 2019 following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

He’s also had both a brother and niece who have battled cancer as well.

And he’s not alone.

“When I’ve asked our players ‘How many of you know someone who’s been impacted by cancer,’ every single one of them raises their hand,” Fasching said. “That tells me a lot about how widespread it is, and also about how much good we can do here.”

Indeed, since Fasching’s first season as head coach in 2013, the Johnnies have joined other colleges and high schools across Minnesota in designating a Tackle Cancer game - raising money to benefit the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund.

That game is today’s matchup against Carleton. Proceeds from the sales of

Tackle Cancer shirts, as well as donations collected at today’s game and money SJU players have raised on their own, will go to funding cancer research, prevention, treatment and other programs relating to the cancer community’s needs.

The effort was started by Shaver, the KARE-11 TV anchor who has survived bouts with both Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and prostate cancer. Since 2012, the organization has raised $2.9 million to support the Minnesota cancer community, including $473,000 in 2022 alone.

been very eye-opening to hear from doctors and researchers about everything they’re working on,” Fasching said. “They’re making real progress. But they need support.”

That is what Fasching and his players are asking for from SJU fans today. In the past, SJU’s Tackle Cancer game has raised more than any other college in the state –including a total of over $100,000 in the past five years alone.

Cindy Fasching and Libby Auger (the wife of current assistant coach Andy Auger, the mother of former SJU standout Tommy Auger and herself a cancer survivor) have led the effort.

“Our goal this year is to raise over $25,000,” Fasching said. “If every adult at the game donated just $5, we’d make a big difference in finding a cure for cancer.”

Fasching and his wife, Cindy, now sit on the fund’s advisory board.

“We help distribute the money and it’s

Fans can donate in person at today’s game, or via Venmo at @SJUFBTACKLE.

Current MIAC Standings

University of WisconsinWhitewater Warhawks

Head Coach: Jace Rindahl 2023 Record: 4-1 2023 WIAC Record: 1-1

Sept. 2 at John Carroll, Ohio W, 27-23

Sept. 9 Saint John’s W, 56-28

Sept. 16 at Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas W, 17-14

Sept. 30 at UW-Oshkosh W, 37-21

Oct. 7 UW-La Crosse L, 34-37

Oct. 14 at UW-River Falls 1 p.m.

Oct. 21 UW-Stout 2 p.m.

Oct. 28 UW-Platteville 1 p.m.

Nov. 4 at UW-Stevens Point 1 p.m.

Nov. 11 UW-Eau Claire 1 p.m.

Carleton College

Sept. 9 Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) W, 45-24

Sept. 16 at Minnesota-Morris W, 38-12

Sept. 23 Hamline W, 31-27

Sept. 30 at Concordia W, 36-35

Oct. 7 St. Olaf W, 33-31

Oct. 14 at Saint John’s 1 p.m.

Oct. 21 St. Scholastica 1

Oct. 28 Bethel 1 p.m.

Nov. 4 at Gustavus Adolphus 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at MIAC Week 1 p.m.

Bethel University Royals

Head Coach: Steve Johnson 2023 Record: 3-2 2023 MIAC Record: 2-1

Sept. 9 Wartburg, Iowa L, 2-16

Sept. 16 at UW-Eau Claire W, 24-0

Sept. 23 at Saint John’s L, 7-27

Sept. 30 Gustavus Adolphus W, 37-28

Oct. 7 at Macalester W, 49-14

Oct. 14 at Augsburg

Oct. 21 Hamline

Oct. 28 at Carleton

Nov. 4 Concordia

Nov. 11 MIAC Week

Gustavus Adolphus College

Augsburg

Sept. 1 Northwestern W, 52-10

Sept. 16 Martin Luther W, 62-0

Sept. 23 at Gustavus Adolphus W, 33-31

Sept. 30 Saint John’s

College of St. Scholastica

Trinity University Tigers Head Coach: Jerheme Urban 2023 Record: 5-1 2023 SAA Record: 4-0

Sept. 2 at Saint John’s L, 31-34 (OT)

Sept. 9 Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas W, 35-16

Sept. 16 at Birmingham-Southern, Ala. W, 38-3

Sept. 23 Rhodes, Tenn. W, 63-14

Sept. 30 at Berry, Ga. W, 46-37

Oct. 7 Centre, Ky. W, 31-3

Oct. 21 at Southwestern, Texas 1 p.m.

Oct. 28 Millsaps, Miss. 12 p.m.

Nov. 4 at Sewanee, Tenn. 12 p.m.

Nov. 11 Hendrix, Ark. 12 p.m.

Concordia

GARY ’S OPENED IN 1982.

In 1982, the Johnnies went 9-0 in the regular season and have had a winning record ever since.

Coincidence? We think NOT!

Coaching Staff

GARY FASCHING

It’s never easy to replace a legend, but Gary Fasching has proven himself up to the task. The 1981 SJU graduate took over for John Gagliardi when the winningest coach in college football history retired following the 2012 season. Since that time, Fasching has guided the Johnnies to five MIAC titles and has led his team to the NCAA Division III playoffs in each of the past eight seasonsa program and MIAC record streak.

A three-year starter for the Johnnies at linebacker (1977-78, 1980-81), Fasching served 17 years as an assistant football

coach and recruiting coordinator on Gagliardi’s staff before taking over as head coach. He has since been named MIAC coach of the year six times (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022). Prior to coming to SJU, Fasching was the head coach at St. Cloud Cathedral High School from 1986-95, leading the Crusaders to back-to-back state titles in 1992 and ’93. In 2022, he was inducted into both the Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) Hall of Fame and the St. Cloud Cathedral Athletic Hall of Fame. He and his wife Cindy reside in St. Joseph.

JERRY HAUGEN

Defensive coordinator Jerry Haugen is in his 48th season as an assistant football coach for the Johnnies. Prior to that, the 1976 SJU graduate was a four-year starter who earned All-MIAC honors at defensive back in 1975. After helping lead the Johnnies to a national title in 2003, Haugen was named NCAA Division III defensive coordinator of the year by American Football Monthly. He will also start his 47th season as SJU’s head baseball coach in 2024 and has led the Johnnies to 13 consecutive appearances in the MIAC Tournament.

KOLE HECKENDORF

Kole Heckendorf is in his sixth season as SJU’s offensive coordinator and his 11th as a member of the team’s coaching staff. In 2019, his offense set program records by averaging 371.4 passing yards and 512.9 total yards per game. Heckendorf was a standout wide receiver at North Dakota State, who ended his career (2005-08) with the Bison as the program’s career leader in catches (178) and receiving yards (2,732). He then spent time with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers and Indianapolis Colts.

Josh Bungum (running backs) - A 2016 SJU graduate, Josh Bungum is in his eighth season on the coaching staff. He was an All-American pick as a player in 2015 and finished his career second in program history in receptions.

Mike Magnuson (offensive line) - A 1990 SJU graduate, Mike Magnuson is in his ninth season on the coaching staff and his sixth coaching the team’s offensive lineman. He was a three-year starter for the Johnnies at offensive tackle himself, helping lead the team to two NCAA Division III playoff appearances.

Ben Eli (offensive line) - A 2016 SJU graduate, Ben Eli is in his seventh season on the coaching staff. As a player, he was an All-American selection at center.

BRANDON NOVAK

Brandon Novak is in his 24th season as an assistant coach for the Johnnies and currently serves as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. The 2001 SJU graduate was a two-time All-American selection at linebacker who earned MIAC MVP honors in 1999. He was a three-time All-American wrestler and won the NCAA Division III national championship at 197 pounds in 2001. He went on to coach the Johnnie wrestling team for 10 years before stepping down following the 2013-14 season.

DAMIEN DUMONCEAUX

Damien Dumonceaux is in his 18th season on the SJU coaching staff and currently serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach. He was a three-year starter at nose tackle for the Johnnies from 2003-05, earning All-American honors as a senior. That season, he was also named Football Gazette’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and D3football. com’s Defensive Player of the Year, while receiving the MIAC Mike Stam Award as the conference’s top lineman.

Graydon Kulick (quarterbacks) - A 2021 graduate of SJU, Graydon Kulick is in his first season on the coaching staff. He played at Davidson and Western Kentucky before transferring to play for the Johnnies.

Max Jackson (defensive assistant/diversity and student success) - A 2019 SJU graduate, Max Jackson is in his third season on the coaching staff. He was a two-time All-American safety and a two-time All-MIAC pick in baseball.

Collin Franz (defensive line) - A 2021 SJU graduate, Collin Franz is in his second season on the coaching staff. He started all 12 games for the Johnnies as player in 2021 (utilizing his extra year of eligibility).

Andy Auger (defense) - A 1995 SJU graduate, Andy Auger is in his fifth season as a volunteer assistant. Prior to that, the former football and baseball standout for the Johnnies was head football coach at St. Cloud Cathedral from 2013-15.

Tom Wicka (linebackers) - A 1990 SJU graduate, Tom Wicka is in his second season as a volunteer assistant. He was a two-time All-MIAC pick at linebacker at SJU.

Alexi Johnson (kickers) - A 2017 SJU graduate, Alexi Johnson is in his sixth season as a volunteer assistant. He was the Johnnies’ kicker from 201316, ending his career second in school history in career field goals (27) and career PAT’s (190).

THE PERFECT SEASON

2003 Johnnies helped Gagliardi set record while winning program’s fourth national title

John Gagliardi stood at midfield in the chilly early-November twilight, surrounded by a sea of media members, family, friends, players past and present and other assorted well-wishers.

Only minutes before, his Saint John’s University football team had beaten a dogged Bethel squad in dramatic fashion, wrapping up the 2003 MIAC title and providing Gagliardi with

• The nail-biting victories.

• The compelling personalities and emotion-packed storylines.

• The historical achievements.

• And, of course, the ultimate happy ending - a 24-6 victory over Division III powerhouse Mount Union to deliver the program’s fourth national championship.

storyline was already 50-some years in the making at that point,” said Elliott, who returned for a fifth season that fall on a medical redshirt and earned the Gagliardi Trophy (named for his head coach) honoring the nation’s top player at the NCAA Division III level.

“It was truly the confluence of so many different things that made for what became a story that far exceeded the Saint John’s bubble.”

The 2003 Johnnies were a veteran unit, and the team had advanced to the national semifinals in both 2001 and 2002. So this was a battle-tested unit, ready to bear the weight of high expectations and weather the surrounding glare of attention they knew the 2003 season was likely to bring.

“What sticks out most about that team to me is just how calm and resilient it was,” said Ryan Keating, the starting quarterback who returned after shattering his right arm in 16 places the year before. “We kept the same demeanor whether we were winning or losing. Fortunately, most of the time we were winning.”

his 409th career victory – moving him past Grambling legend Eddie Robinson as the winningest coach in college football history.

Now it was time for the icon to speak.

“I’m just so proud of all the guys I’ve coached over the years,” Gagliardi said as the sun sank low beyond the pine trees surrounding Clemens Stadium. “I owe it all to them.

“People always ask me how it’s done. I tell them it’s talent, luck and prayer.”

Gagliardi and the Johnnies had a balanced mix of all three that year, and the result was a magical season that, at times, felt as if it were lifted from the pages of a Hollywood script.

But as wide receiver Blake Elliott, the brightest star on a roster full of them, is quick to point out, there was nothing pre-ordained about what Gagliardi and the Johnnies accomplished in 2003. It took lots of hard work, an ample dose of good fortune and decades upon decades of past success to allow for everything to come together the way it did.

“The major

SJU won each of its first seven games by an average margin of almost 37 points, allowing only two teams to come within 20. That set up a matchup with archrival St. Thomas for what would be Gagliardi’s record-tying 408th victory. The Tommies were struggling that season, but it took a 35yard field goal by kicker Brandon Keller in the final seconds to emerge with a 15-12 victory.

The win in St. Paul meant the following week’s showdown with fellow unbeaten Bethel would not only bring the possibility of Gagliardi breaking the record, but decide the conference champion as well.

A then-record crowd of 13,107 packed Clemens Stadium on Nov. 8 despite a temperature of around 18 at kickoff and a windchill that hovered just above zero. Almost 100 media credentials had been issued for the game, which matched up two teams both ranked in the top 10 of that week’s Division III top 25.

As one would expect in such a clash, the momentum see-sawed back-and-forth. But it was Keating’s 5-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Josh Nelson with just over two minutes to go that proved the game-winner in a 29-26 victory. Then, after rolling past Crown in the regular-season finale, SJU beat St. Norbert (Wisconsin) 38-13 to start the playoffs, and withstood a challenge from Linfield (Oregon), winning 31-25 against a team that would take the national title one year later. That was followed by a 38-10 win over RPI (New York) in the national semifinals, earning the Johnnies a trip to Salem, Virginia to play for a national title. Waiting there, though, was Mount Union – a team that had won a national record 55-straight games (including beating the Johnnies 10-7 in the national championship game in 2000 and 35-14 in the

national semifinals in 2001). But SJU was not intimidated. In fact, the Johnnies welcomed the challenge.

“It almost had to be Mount Union to cap that year off,” said Isaac Flenner, then a junior starting tight end. “That was the icing on the cake.”

A 14-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jake Theis put SJU on top 7-6 at halftime. A 22-yard field goal by Keller late in the third quarter extended the Johnnies’ lead. Then, early in the fourth, Elliott – who had begun lining up in the backfield at times late in the season in an effort get the ball in his hands more often – took a hand-off and broke free up the middle on a 51yard touchdown run.

That score put SJU in front 17-6, then a 100-yard interception return by defensive back Mike Zauhar placed the game out of reach.

“I didn’t realize how special it was in the moment,” Nelson said this summer. “But now, as you look back on it 20 years later, it’s hard not to use the word magical when you think about how all the stars aligned for everything to work out the way it did.”

Read a longer version of this story – and stories on all of the 2023 inductees into the SJU J-Club Hall of Honor –at gojohnnies.com

Tradition Unrivaled

On the basis of on-field accomplishments alone, the Saint John’s University football team ranks among the nation’s elite.

Through the years, the Johnnies have won four national championships at either the NAIA or NCAA Division III level (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003), and have made 32 postseason appearances.

SJU has won or shared 36 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, 14 more than any other member school, and the program’s current streak of eightstraight Division III playoff berths has surpassed its own conference record.

Four Johnnies have won the Gagliardi Award, named in honor of legendary former SJU head coach John Gagliardi and handed out annually to the top player in Division III, and the program can boast 147 All-Americans and 35 Academic All-Americans.

But what makes football at Saint John’s special goes well beyond even all those numbers.

During his 60 seasons in Collegeville, Gagliardi – whose 489 career victories are the most in college football history –developed his famous list of Nos which still form the program’s core values.

That list - which includes no whistles, no tackling in practice (players wear shorts/ sweats and shoulder pads) and no blocking sleds or tackling dummies - has drawn national media interest over the years from venerable outlets such as Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, the Today Show and many, many others.

Then there is the atmosphere … Johnnie home games are truly an autumn playground: the vivid fall colors blazing from the trees in the woods surrounding the natural bowl that forms Clemens Stadium, the smoke rising from the grills behind the concession stands (home to the uniquely incredible heavenly apples) and, of course, the crowds.

SJU consistently ranks among the national leaders in attendance at the NCAA Division III level and has led the way 11 times since 2005. Since the 2001 season, the program has recorded a single-game attendance number of 10,000 or more 21 times.

That included a record crowd of 17,327 for a matchup against St. Thomas in 2015, a game preceded by a live broadcast of ESPN’s “Sports Center on the Road” program.

Last season alone saw crowds of 12,462 and 13,161 for matchups against Wisconsin-Whitewater and Gustavus respectively.

Add it all up and you have something beyond amazing.

You have … a Tradition Unrivaled.

4 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

32 POSTSEASON APPEARANCES

36 CONFERENCE TITLES

54 STRAIGHT SEASONS WITHOUT A LOSING RECORD

147 ALL-AMERICANS

444

FIRST-TEAM ALL-MIAC SELECTIONS

674 WINS ALL-TIME

JOHNNIE OFFENSE

Presented by McGough

Ames, Iowa/Ames

Minn./East Ridge

St. Paul, Minn./Johnson 6 Aaron Syverson

Minn./Minnetonka

Minn./Princeton 7 Nick VanErp

Battle Lake, Minn./Ottertail Central 8 Alex Larson

Minn./East Ridge 9 Troy Feddema

200 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

9 Lucas Jansky So. QB 6-0 185 Kimball, Minn./Kimball Area

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School

36 Eddie Sirek So. WR 5-8 165 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

37 Sam Nolan Fr. WR 6-0 180 Lakeville, Minn./North

38 Isaiah Traufler Sr. RB 6-1 210 Blaine, Minn./Totino-Grace

39 Andrew Schaffer Fr. WR 6-1 190 Chaska, Minn./Chaska

41 Andrew Harren Fr. TE 6-5 215 Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice

45 Jack Eibensteiner Sr. LS 6-0 220 North Oaks, Minn./Totino-Grace

50 Nick McKenzie Jr. OL 6-1 280 New London, Minn./New London-Spicer

51 Barrett Van Deun Fr. OL 6-1 260 Omaha, Neb./Millard West

53 Spencer Gustin Jr. OL 6-2 280 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

54 Grant Peroutka Jr. OL 6-1 275 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount

55 Tom Soler Jr. OL 6-2 290 Circle Pines, Minn./Hill-Murray

56 Eddie Reece So. OL 6-5 275 Hudson, Wis./Hill-Murray

57 Colton Rada Fr. OL 6-2 285 Chaska, Minn./Chaska

58 Will Caldwell Fr. OL 6-1 245 Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake

10 R.J. Altidort

WR 6-0 185 North Miami, Fla./Miami Central 11 Jimmy Buck Sr. WR 6-4 210 Orono, Minn./Orono

12 Conor Murphy Jr. K 5-10 180 Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman

12 Kristoff Kowalkowski Jr. QB 6-2 210 St. Cloud, Minn./Totino-Grace

13 E.J.

59 Ethan Sutton Sr. OL 6-3 280 New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong

60 Ian DeGross So. OL 6-3 270 Elko, Minn./New Prague

61 Matt Peterson Fr. OL 6-3 245 Esko, Minn./Esko

62 Isaak Nowak Fr. OL 6-3 270 Andover, Minn./Andover

63 Joe Vascellaro Jr. OL 6-3 295 Minneapolis, Minn./St. Thomas Academy

64 Joe Jaeger Sr. OL 6-2 285 Lakeville, Minn./North

65 Sean Lew Jr. OL 6-2 290 Bermuda Dunes, Calif./Shadow Hills

66 Luke Wright So. OL 6-0 265 Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury

67 Hank Smith Sr. OL 6-2 255 Geneva, Ill./Geneva

69 Henry Anderson Fr. OL 6-2 290 Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie

70 Alex Markgraf So. OL 6-0 280 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

71 Mathias Lundgren Fr. OL 6-5 280 St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village

72 Charlie Folkens Jr. OL 6-3 285 Rogers, Minn./Rogers

73 Rylan Turqueza Fr. OL 6-3 280 Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Radford

74 Ethan Lincoln Fr. OL 6-3 270 Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake

76 Jack Stevens So. OL 6-4 270 Eagan, Minn./Eastview

77 Carter Trom So. OL 6-2 295 Blaine, Minn./Blaine

78 Michael Bougie Fr. OL 6-5 285 South St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

79 Tommy Hessburg Jr. OL 6-5 295 Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South

80 Vinny Gagliardi Sr. WR 5-9 160 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

81 Graham Beltrand Jr. WR 6-4 215 Long Lake, Minn./Orono

82 Todd Jager Sr. WR 6-0 185 St. Bonifacius, Minn./Waconia

82 Matt Miller Jr. WR 6-2 205 Lakeville, Minn./North

83 John Hawkins So. WR 6-0 180 St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

84 Peyton Gremmels So. WR 6-2 185 Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep

85 Trey Steinbach Jr. TE 6-5 245 Marshall, Minn./Marshall

86 Cade Berg Fr. WR 6-5 180 Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong

87 Josh Delange So. WR 6-4 200 Medina, Minn./Orono

88 Charlie Plum So. TE 6-4 210 Inver Grove Hts., Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

90 Matt Hansen Fr. K/P 5-11 145 Longmont, Colo./Niwot

95 Spencer Ell Sr. P 5-11 185 Morristown, Minn./Bethlehem Academy

95 David Roberts So. K/P 6-3 180 West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic

Minn./Breckenridge

44 Sam Lewison Sr. LB 6-0 225 Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview

45 Vinny Wanda So. DL 6-3 235 Lakeville, Minn./North

46

Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral

Minn./Mounds

DB 5-10 180 Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley

11 Noah Arneson So. DB 6-0 195 Independence, Minn./Orono

12 Logan Jans Fr. DB 6-4 180 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

13 Nate Trewick Sr. DB 5-11 185 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

14 Alex Harren So. LB 6-2 210 Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice

15 Brandon Ruikka Sr. DB 6-0 190 Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial

16 Blake Simonson So. DB 5-10 170 Waconia, Minn./Waconia

17 Lukas Soto Sr. DB 6-1 190 Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee

18 Ethan Stark Sr. DB 6-1 195 Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen

19 Parker Durkin Fr. DB 6-2 185 Bloomington, Minn./Edina

20 Cam Jackson Sr. LB 5-10 205 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

21 Nolan Rueter Jr. DB 6-2 205 Avon, Minn./Albany

22 Jake Palmer Sr. LB 5-10 225 St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village

22 Charlie Ryks So. DB 6-0 200 Maple Grove, Minn./Breck

23 Aiden McMahon Fr. LB 6-1 215 Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove

24 Cayden Saxon Sr. DB 6-3 200 Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins

25 Connor Chalmers Sr. DB 6-0 175 Chaska, Minn./Holy Family Catholic

25 Zachariah Hunter So. LB 5-11 210 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area

26 Jack Savasten Jr. DB 6-2 200 Farmington, Minn./Farmington

51 Henry Bendickson Fr. LB 6-0 190 St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park

52 J.P. Johnson Fr. DL 6-3 225 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi

53 Kaden Lukkes So. LB 5-10 180 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

53 Dawson Van Meter Jr. DL 6-0 230 Luck, Wis./Luck

54 Eric Jurek Fr. LB 5-11 200 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area

55 Keenan Turqueza Sr. DL 6-2 255 Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Radford

56 Travis Johnson Jr. DL 6-3 250 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta

57 Garret Strating Sr. LB 6-0 215 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial

58 Nathan Carroll Fr. DL 6-1 255 Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake

59 Jayden Leach So. LB 6-1 220 Bayport, Minn./Stillwater Area

60 Jackson Carlson Fr. LB 6-3 205 Duluth, Minn./East

64 Jack Hillmann So. LB 5-11 175 Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato

65 T.J. Graves So. DL 5-10 235 Millington, Tenn./Central

66 Will Mahowald Fr. DL 6-1 240 Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen

67 Mitch Vener So. DL 6-2 230 South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul

70 Caleb Thom So. DL 6-2 230 Minneapolis, Minn./Totino-Grace

73 Jack Krza So. DL 6-4 235 Littleton, Colo./Mullen

75 Caleb Poyer Fr. DL 6-3 260 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta

77 Cody Kwak Fr. DL 6-2 265 Ridgeland, Wis./Menomonie

80 Gavin Zolvinski So. LB 6-1 215 La Porte, Ind./La Porte

175 North Branch, Minn./Chisago Lakes 29 Cage Linton Jr. LB

28 Ryan Sanvik Jr. DB

200 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall 30 Ezra Noska Sr. DB 5-10 175 Avon, Minn./Albany 31 Dylan Hanson

DB

180 Savage, Minn./Prior Lake 32 Khalil Nance

Family Catholic

DB

180 Lake Elsinore, Calif./Linfield Christian 32 Jake Schwinghammer Jr. LB 5-11 220 Woodbury, Minn./Tartan

33 Tate Link Fr. LB 5-9 205 Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato 33 Hillary Makori Sr. DB 5-10 180 Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson 34 Andrew Molenaar So. DL 6-0 225 Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View 35 Ethan Kunkel Fr. DB 5-10 185 Boulder, Colo./Boulder

Mason Wolf Sr. LB 6-4 200 St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral 36 Griffin Schneider So. DB 5-10 170 Waconia, Minn./Waconia

37 Zach Helfmann Fr. LB 6-2 210 St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park

38 Jack Klein Fr. DB 6-3 210 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice

D.J. Myles Jr. LB 5-11 205 Dayton, Minn./Champlin Park

40 Blake Ehlert Jr. DB 6-0 170 St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral

40 Isaac Hetland Jr. DL 6-1 230 Osakis, Minn./Osakis 41

87 Jordan Borgeson Jr. DL 6-3 245 Rochester, Minn./Lourdes

88 Joe Bisso Fr. DL 6-3 220 Tomball, Texas/The John Cooper School

89 Jackson Kirchner Fr. DL 6-2 240 Belle Plaine, Minn./Chanhassen

90 Landon Gallagher Jr. DL 6-2 230 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta

91 Dylan Owens So. DL 6-2 255 Andover, Minn./Andover

92 Chandler Obering So. DL 6-4 245 Orange, Calif./Villa Park

93 Riley DeRosier So. DL 6-1 235 Baxter, Minn./Brainerd

94 Ben Karr So. DL 6-2 220 Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray

96 Riley Kangas Jr. LB 6-1 230 Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy

97 Zach Frank Jr. DL 6-3 260 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial

98 Tommy Gilmore Jr. DL 6-1 245 Otsego, Minn./Rogers

99 Cole Engen So. DL 6-1 235 Esko, Minn./Esko

Be a Bennie Be a Johnnie

Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Cranbrook Kingswood 11 Nathan Streiff

New Glarus, Wis./New Glarus 12 Kaden Becker Fr.

Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty 14 Myles Swisher

16 Joseph Park Jr. WR

Safety Harbor, Fla./Northside Christian

Minnetonka, Minn./Blake

180 Fullerton, Calif./Troy

Wash./Kamiakin

Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island

Palmdale, Calif./Quartz Hill

Jackson, Wis./Germantown

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School

45 Dillon Johnson So. DB 6-1 205 Memphis, Tenn./Collierville

47 Jackson LeBlanc Fr. LB 5-9 195 Pearland, Texas/Pearland

49 Marcus Merkelbach So. K/P 6-2 190 Seattle, Wash./Garfield

50 Anil Dharmarajan Fr. LB 6-0 200 St. Lous, Mo./John Burroughs School

52 JP Janik So. DL 6-0 200 Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast

53 Brad Bartling Fr. OL 6-1 265 Brea, Calif./La Habra

54 Peter Qi Fr. DL 5-10 198 Beijing, China/UWC Changshu

55 Isaac Simons Sr. LB 5-11 215 Oconomowoc, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran 56 Logan Woodmancy So. OL 6-1 295 North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton 57 Will Han Fr. OL 5-11 215 Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West 58 Jacob Ventura So. LB 6-1 215 Short Hills, N.J./Pingry

250 Haddonfield, N.J./Memorial

79 Noah Morris Jr. OL 6-2 280 Gladstone, N.J./Pingry School

80 Tyler Dimond So. WR/QB 6-1 200 North Grafton, Mass. / Grafton

81 Chris Liao Fr. WR 5-9 160 Hillsborough, Calif./Menlo School

82 Jaxon Watson Fr. WR 5-11 175 Salem, Ore./South Salem

83 Garrett Siff Jr. WR 5-10 165 Takoma Park, Md./Montgomery Blair

87 Rye Storrs So. TE 6-3 220 Portland, Ore./Franklin

88 Jack Huffman Sr. WR 6-3 210 Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos

89 Cooper Pollard Fr. WR 5-9 165 Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek

90 Chris Rodriguez So. DL 5-10 208 Minneapolis, Minn./Cristo Rey Jesuit

91 Gabriel Viruet-Quintero So. DL 5-10 220 Roslyn Heights, N.Y. / Roslyn

95 Nate Campbell Sr. DL 5-10 205 Rolling Hills Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes

97 Spencer Goetz Jr. DB 6-3 220 Chaska, Minn./Chaska

99 Anthony Baldenegro Fr. DL 5-10 245 Plymouth, Calif./Amador

Head Coach: Tom Journell (Sixth season at Carleton, 16th overall)

Assistant Coaches: Sam Kent, Bob Davies, Dennis Lee, Jay Schoenebeck, Scott Van Epps, Joel Ginn, Matt Norstad, Marcus Pearson

Football Facilities

CLEMENS STADIUM

From the start, those in charge of developing the space now known as Clemens Stadium had something majestic in mind. So they set about turning a former cranberry bog into a natural bowl stadium that has been the home of Saint John’s University football for 115 years.

Ringed by the gorgeous fall colors of the surrounding Central Minnesota woods, the field has long become a destination spot, a status only solidified when Sports Illustrated named it one of college football’s top 10 “Dream Destinations” in 1999.

The facility itself has expanded often over the years. Concrete seating was added in 1933 and expanded in 1957. The familiar stone entrance behind the south end zone was built in 1939 and the first press box and concession stand were erected four years later. In 1997, local philanthropist Bill Clemens – the man for whom the stadium is named -- provided a million-dollar donation that allowed for construction of a new grandstand, an expanded press box, larger concession stands and restrooms and a new entrance. Another donation by Clemens, who attended SJU from 193840, made possible the installation of an artificial playing surface in 2002.

A third tier to the press box was added in 2009 and lights were installed in 2012. Meanwhile, large crowds have been commonplace. SJU has finished among the national leaders in per-game attendance in NCAA Division III in each of the last 20 seasons – including crowds of 10,000 or more 21 times since 2001.

That included a facility-record 17,327 for a matchup against St. Thomas on Sept. 26, 2015 – a day in which ESPN’s “Sports Center On the Road” program was broadcast live from the stadium, and a crowd of 13,107 on hand to see legendary former coach John Gagliardi become the winningest coach in college football history when SJU beat Bethel 29-26 on Nov. 8, 2003.

from more than 50 individual donorsmany of whom were former players. The artificial turf field has markings for a full-length football field, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, two cross-court soccer fields, baseball and softball, along with three batting cages when the Skalicky Dome goes up from October to April each academic year.

It’s a year-round home for intramural sports on campus, but also serves as a practice facility for the football team and other varsity sports.

GAGLIARDI FIELD

A big part of the success of the Saint John’s University football program over the years has been the way players of the past helped pave the way for players of the present and future.

The Gagliardi Field and Seasonal Dome complex is a perfect example of that sense of community. Named in honor of legendary former football coach John Gagliardi - the winningest coach in college history - it was made possible by gifts

MCGLYNN FITNESS CENTER

When it comes to training, the right facilities are important. But having the right people in place to staff them is just as critical.

Luckily, Saint John’s University has both. The 5,600-feet McGlynn Fitness Centerwhich was made possible by a generous gift from the Burt McGlynn family, and is open to all students and alums - is equipped with a full range of free weights, upper-body, lower-body and full-core machines, and cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bicycles.

But SJU athletes also have an exceptional resource on which to draw in Justin Rost, who is now in his 11th season as the assistant athletic trainer and head strength and conditioning coach in Collegeville.

“From a football standpoint, when I was hired, one of the things I saw as a necessity when it came to getting our program back to the top of the heap (in the MIAC) was having a full-time strength and conditioning coach at Saint John’s who could work with our players year-round,” Johnnies head coach Gary Fasching said.

“Justin came in with a great plan and he’s stuck with it. All of our guys who have worked with him have gained valuable speed, muscle and strength. He’s been a big part of our success the past 10 years.”

PROUD SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE ATHLETICS

Joe Jaeger

6-2, 285, offensive line, Lakeville North High School

What has been the most memorable part of your time at SJU – in football or on campus?

Last year, I lived in a house with seven other Johnnie football players. After the Homecoming game, we threw a huge party with all our family and friends to celebrate a great win. Those are the kind of moments that perfectly exemplify the amazing community and friendships that Saint John’s and Saint Benedict have to offer.

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

My favorite spot on campus is the Gorecki Dining Center (at CSB) for Sunday morning brunch. There is nothing better than eating an amazing brunch with your best friends recapping an amazing weekend!

What is your favorite song/musical artist?

Right now, my favorite artists are Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. My favorite song is “Deep Satin” by Zach Bryan.

Senior Spotlight

Aaron Syverson

6-0, 195, quarterback, Minnetonka High School

What made you decide to attend SJU? The biggest reasons I decided to come to SJU were the strong football program and the accounting and finance program.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

For the most part, I eat the same thing every meal, every day.

What is your favorite song/musical artist?

I’m a huge Tyler Hubbard and Dua Lipa fan.

Cam Jackson

5-10, 205, linebacker, Cretin-Derham Hall High School

What is something about you not everyone would know? I like to draw.

What made you decide to attend SJU? As soon as I got to campus, it felt like a family.

What are some of your hobbies away from football?

Ethan Stark

6-1, 195, defensive back, Sartell High School

What made you decide to attend SJU? It was the community atmosphere you find here, the drive for success the school instills and the network of alumni available to help you find success after college.

What is something about you not everyone would know? I’m actually engaged to a wonderful woman.

What do you consider your greatest talent? My strong work ethic.

Gorecki Dining Center

LAST WEEK IN PICTURES

Presented by Sentry Bank

Senior wide receiver Nick VanErp finished with eight catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Marselio Mendez had two touchdown catches for the Johnnies in the win.

Sophomore wideout Dylan Wheeler registered career highs with 10 catches for 109 yards.

Senior quarterback Aaron Syverson’s record-setting day lifted No. 7 SJU past Concordia

FRANKLY SPEAKING

Presented by Stearns Bank

By Frank Rajkowski

STEARNS BANK NOW PRESENTING SPONSOR OF GAGLIARDI TROPHY

When Kelly Skalicky was in seventh grade in the mid-1970s, the soon-to-be-standout basketball player and golfer at Albany High School was just looking for a place to shoot hoops.

Enter John Gagliardi, already the legendary head football coach at Saint John’s.

“I’d sneak into Rat Hall (officially known as Guild Hall) every night and on weekends and holidays to shoot baskets and work on improving my game with the dream of earning a college basketball scholarship and playing Division I,” said Skalicky, who went on to become a six-year starter for the Huskies and led Albany to state girls basketball tournament appearances in 1978, ’79, ’80 and ’81.

That 1980 team captured a Class A state title. The 1981 Minnesota Miss Basketball finished her prep career with 2,704 points and — along with Janet Karvonen of New York Mills — was among the first generation of breakout stars in the state’s prep ranks. She then went on to a Division I golf career at LSU and the University of Minnesota.

“Coach Gagliardi took a liking to me – or just wanted me to stop slipping in the back door at Rat Hall,” she continued. “He invited me to take my nightly practice to the Warner Palaestra - even opening the Palaestra on holidays so I could practice.”

Those off-hours practice sessions helped Gagliardi get to know Kelly’s father Norm, the longtime CEO of Stearns Bank. Already admirers of another, the two formed a close friendship that lasted the rest of their lives, which only made sense given the common traits each possessed.

Each even compiled a similar list of no’s. Gagliardi’s included no whistles, no tackling in practice and no blocking sleds or tackling dummies. Among the items on Skalicky’s were no busy work, no time-wasting meetings, no throwing away money and no end to the possibilities.

“Norm and my dad were two of a kind,” said Gagliardi’s son Jim, who played for and coached with his father, and is now SJU’s director of athletic marketing. “They knew what they wanted, but created a new way to get there. People made the difference… but they made those people believe in what they were doing, and to realize that if they would sustain their effort, greatness would come.

“And it did for both of them.”

Gagliardi - who won four national titles and finished his career with 489 career victories, the most at any level in college football history - retired in 2012 and passed away at age 91 in 2018.

Skalicky, who was the first non-family member the Gagliardi’s called when John died, passed away himself at age 87 in 2021. Kelly Skalicky is now Stearns Bank’s CEO, and the longtime ties her family shared with Gagliardi is part of why she jumped at the opportunity to make Stearns Bank the new presenting sponsor of the Gagliardi Trophy, an award that has been handed out each season since 1993 by the SJU J-Club to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division III football.

“It is an absolute privilege and honor for Stearns Bank to sponsor the highly acclaimed Gagliardi Trophy,” she said. “The team at Stearns Bank thought it a fitting tribute to honor highly-acclaimed Coach Gagliardi by sponsoring the Gagliardi Trophy in Norm’s memory, and as an acknowledgment of the longtime friendship they treasured and the legacy of success and lasting impact they left for their families, friends and communities to carry forward.”

Phil Barry’s first collegiate punt wasn’t all that impressive.

“I’m not sure it went anywhere close to 40 yards,” he recalls with a chuckle. “I didn’t get off to a very fortuitous start.”

It was the second punt, though, that solidified the Crete, Nebraska native’s place in the SJU lineup, and started him on the road to becoming the top punter in program history.

time. “He’s kicked us out of some really deep holes.”

His efforts earned him All-American honors as both a junior in 1998 and a senior in 1999.

“It’s probably a good thing that the distance record hasn’t been broken (since it was set in 1999),” said Barry, who also became a starter at free safety as a senior - finishing with 52 tackles and five interceptions on a team that finished 11-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals.

“It means the Saint John’s offense hasn’t put themselves in too many deep holes over

#35 BARRY

That one came in a 24-16 loss to Gustavus during his sophomore season in 1997 and traveled 76 yards, which at the time was thought to be a school record - though John Van Buren once had a punt of 77 yards against St. Mary’s in 1936. But Barry would eventually break that mark with a 79-yard kick against Concordia in 1999 – a record that still stands today. As do the other records he established during his time with the Johnnies.

Among them:

• Best career yards-per-punt average (41.7)

• Best yards-per-punt average in an individual season (43.5 in 1999)

• Best yards-per-punt average in an individual game (58 against Concordia in 1998, and he also ranks second and third with a 53.6 yards-per-punt average against Bethel in 1999 and a 53.5 yardsper-punt average against St. Thomas in 1997.

“He’s a really great kicker,” Johnnies coach John Gagliardi said of him at the

the years that they’ve needed to punt out of.”

Barry has worked at Microsoft the past 13 years and currently resides in Seattle with his wife Lucie and his two children - Gage (age 4) and Charlize (now almost nine months). Because he lives out-of-state, he hasn’t been back to an SJU game in a while, but said he still follows the team from afar.

“I really enjoyed my time at Saint John’s,” said Barry, whose older brothers Vincent ’93 and Marty ’98 also attended the school. “I’ll always be a Johnnie.”

INDUCTEES TAKE THEIR PLACES IN HALL OF HONOR TONIGHT

Presented by SJU Institutional Advancement

CEREMONY WILL HONOR ANOTHER GROUP OF SJU SPORTS GREATS

Induction ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. at Guild Hall.

For nearly a century, Homecoming has presented an unique opportunity for alums, students and parents at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict to renew their bonds and celebrate their rich heritage together.

And in recent years, Homecoming has had an added element – the celebratory induction of the Class of 2023 to the Saint John’s J-Club Hall of Honor.

Ten individuals and one storied team will be added during the Hall of Honor dinner and enshrinement ceremony, which will be held after the Johnnies’ Homecoming football game against Concordia. The event begins at 5:15 p.m. in Guild Hall (Old Gym).

The class is led by the 2003 Saint John’s football team. It completed “The Perfect Season” by winning the NCAA Division III national championship during a season in which the Johnnies also made Hall of Fame coach John Gagliardi the winningest coach in college football history.

Individuals also being inducted today include:

• Lou Adderley ’55 Tennis and Wrestling

• Paul Bernabei ’69 Basketball

• Jon Dold ’94 Baseball

• Darwin Dumonceaux ’99 Track & Field and Football

• Chris Erichsen ’08 Cross Country and Track & Field

• Terry Haws Coach

• Tom Kubinski ’86 Swimming & Diving

• Matt McGovern ’01 Golf

• Chris Palmer ’96 Football and Baseball

• Fr. Dunstan Tucker ’25 Distinguished Service

Today’s Homecoming football game is the 94th renewal of the tradition that began in 1925. Saint John’s has a 71-20-2 record on Homecoming, where for decades Bennies and Johnnies have returned to be with one another and enjoy the campuses they call home.

“Homecoming is like an all-college reunion for Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s,” said John Young ’83, Saint John’s Associate VicePresident for Institutional Advancement.

“It is a special time for us to come together every year as an alum community with current students and their parents. Extending hospitality to the CSB and SJU family is what our fall Homecoming is all about. Similarly, our summer reunion tradition each June brings Bennie and Johnnie alum classmates together … but only once every five years.”

And speaking of Reunion … Summer Reunion 2024 for 4’s and 9’s Reunion Classes will be held next June 21-23. It’s a great opportunity where alums can reconnect with one another, with Benedictines, and with faculty and staff on both campuses over the fun three-day weekend.

2 0 2 3

FEATURED FLASHBACK

Presented by Kwik Trip

Sometimes a player just has to trust his instincts.

That’s what Saint John’s University running back Jeff Schnobrich did with his team’s season hanging in the balance 15 years ago. The result was an MIAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Johnnies and Carleton brought identical 5-2 conference marks heading into their regular-season closing matchup on Nov. 15, 2008 at Laird Stadium in Northfield. The winner of the game would claim that season’s MIAC championship and the automatic postseason bid that came with it.

When Matt Frank caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Eden Valley-Watkins High School graduate Shane Henfling with 50 seconds to go, it appeared the Knights were on their way to a 10-7 victory.

But Schnobrich and the Johnnies had other ideas. After getting the ball back at their own 38, quarterback Joe Boyle connected with Schnobrich for gains of 9 and 8 yards, then found Albany High School graduate Josh Overman over the middle for a gain of 23. And the seeds were planted for what happened next.

“I had been running an out from the backfield and picked up just shy of 10 yards both times,” recalls Schnobrich, a graduate of New Ulm Cathedral. “After Joe found Josh over the middle, we called timeout and talked about what we wanted to do.

I remember going up to (then-offensive coordinator) Jim (Gagliardi) and telling him I thought if we went with an out-and-up, the guy who was covering me would bite.

“That was one thing I really loved about playing at Saint John’s. The coaching staff would let us try ideas like that, even in big situations.”

It turned out to be a wise strategy as Schnobrich hauled in a 22-yard touchdown catch to lift SJU to a dramatic 14-10 victory, stunning the crowd of 6,000.

“I remember just feeling joy and celebration, maybe even some relief,” Schnobrich said. “It felt especially good to know I’d suggested that play and it worked out. Thankfully, even with two losses, we were still in a position to have our playoff fate in our own hands. And we got the job done.”

Schnobrich now works for Minnesota Management and Budget, a state agency responsible for managing state finances, payroll and human resources. It’s a position he’s held the past three years after previously working in Washington D.C., Lexington,

Kentucky and Chicago (where he was part of the area’s regional planning agency). He and his wife Emilee Parsons (whom he met in an acting class at CSB and SJU) are the parents to Harper, a twoyear-old daughter.

“Carleton had a good team that year,” Schnobrich said. “They had a good team the year before when they almost beat us. There wouldn’t have been any shame in losing to them. But I remember feeling pretty relieved that we were able to get out of there with the win.”

ON THIS DATE (OCT. 14)

IN JOHNNIE HISTORY: 2017 - Dusty Krueger rushed for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns as SJU rolled past Carleton 35-0 on the road in Northfield.

1972 - Johnnies quarterback Paul Schmit rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns - a 1-yard quarterback sneak and a 17-yard run around left end - in a 34-0 win over MinnesotaDuluth in Collegeville.

1939 - SJU fullback Benny Lorenz had a pair of third-quarter touchdownsincluding a 52-yard scoring run - as the Johnnies rolled past Concordia 25-0 before a Homecoming crowd of over 2,000 in Collegeville.

We’ve got you covered.

Schnobrich

Granite Partners is a private investment and holding company founded in 2002 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with a mission to grow companies and create value for all stakeholders. As trusted partners, innovative leaders, and responsible stewards, we are committed to 100-year sustainability, and we aspire to world-class wellbeing for all people in and around the Granite community.

Granite.com

PROBABLE STARTERS

Presented by McDowall Company

SAINT JOHN’S OFFENSE

WR 1 Marselio Mendez Jr., 5-9, 170

WR 7 Nick VanErp Sr., 5-11, 175

TE 8 Alex Larson Sr., 6-7, 240

LT 79 Tommy Hessburg Jr., 6-5, 295

LG 50 Nick McKenzie Jr., 6-1, 280

C 72 Charlie Folkens Jr., 6-3, 285

RG 64 Joe Jaeger Sr., 6-2, 285

RT 54 Grant Peroutka Jr., 6-1, 275

WR 2 Dylan Wheeler So., 6-3, 200

QB 6 Aaron Syverson Sr., 6-0, 195

RB 9 Troy Feddema Sr., 5-11, 200

CARLETON OFFENSE

WR 0 Ntense Obono Jr., 6-2, 225

WR 11 Nathan Streiff Jr., 6-3, 200

LT 56 Logan Woodmancy So., 6-1, 295

LG 71 Chris Elliott Sr., 6-2, 285

C 68 Isaac Mouacheupao So., 6-2, 280

RG 73 Declan Schwab Jr., 6-4, 275

RT 53 Brad Bartling Fr., 6-1, 265

TE 2/48 Zehou Ben Zhao Jr., 6-0, 210

WR 87 Rye Storrs So., 6-3, 220

QB 3 Jack Curtis So., 6-3, 210

RB 42 Antonio Barrera Fr., 6-2, 230

Saint John’s Specialists

K 12 Conor Murphy Jr., 5-10, 180

P 95 Spencer Ell Sr., 5-11, 185

LS 45 Jack Eibensteiner Sr., 6-0, 220

H 7 Nick VanErp Sr., 5-11, 175

KR 27 Caden Wheeler So., 5-10, 195 7 Nick VanErp Sr., 5-11, 175

PR 1 Marselio Mendez Jr., 5-9, 170

CARLETON DEFENSE

DE 30 C.J. Richards Jr., 5-10, 210

NG 15 Luke Sugalski So., 6-5, 250

DE 74 Michael Carey Sr., 6-3, 250

OLB 4

UPCOMING JOHNNIE EVENTS

Saturday, Oct. 14 (Homecoming)

Cross Country at UW-La Crosse Invitational

Football vs. Carleton Soccer at Bethel

J-Club Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony

Sunday, Oct. 15

Golf at Golfweek Fall Invitational Soccer at Wartburg (Iowa)

Monday, Oct. 16

Golf at Golfweek Fall Invitational

SAINT JOHN’S DEFENSE

DE 9 Joe Akoh Sr., 6-4, 240

DT 97 Zach Frank Jr., 6-3, 260

DT 90 Landon Gallagher Jr., 6-2, 230

DE 32 Jake Schwinghammer Jr., 5-11, 220

LB 43 Hayden Sanders Jr., 6-0, 215

LB 49 Erik Bjork Sr., 6-0, 220

LB 3 Cooper Yaggie Jr., 6-0, 215

CB 24 Cayden Saxon Sr., 6-3, 200

S 18 Ethan Stark Sr., 6-1, 195

S 11 Noah Arneson So., 6-0, 195

CB 8 Peyton Goettlicher Fr., 5-11, 190

Carleton Specialists

K 49 Marcus Merkelbach So., 6-2, 190

P 49 Marcus Merkelbach So., 6-2, 190

LS 15 Luke Sugalski So., 6-5, 250

H 8 Nick Toole So., 6-4, 215

KR 83 Garrett Siff Jr., 5-10, 165 7 Henry Detmer Sr., 6-2, 200 PR 83 Garrett Siff Jr., 5-10, 165

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Golf at Golfweek Fall Invitational

Friday, Oct. 20

Hockey at UW-Stout (Exhibition)

Saturday, Oct. 21

Football at Gustavus Adolphus Soccer vs. St. Olaf

Swimming & Diving vs. Macalester

Tuesday, Oct. 24

Soccer at St. Scholastica

Friday, Oct. 27

Swimming & Diving vs. Hamline

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When Saint John’s Has The Ball

When Carleton Has The Ball