COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Gustavus football team held a four-point lead late in the second quarter Saturday, but Saint John’s outscored the visitors 24-6 in the final 31 minutes of the game for a 41-27 final. The Gusties drop to 4-3 overall, 3-2 in the MIAC, and 1-1 in the Northwoods Division, while the No. 5-ranked Johnnies improve to 6-1 overall, 4-1 in the MIAC, and 2-0 in the division.
Gustavus started the game with the first possession and was moving the ball well until Saint John’s forced a sack fumble that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown. The Gusties continued to move the ball up the field during their second possession and finished off an eight-play 58-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass from George Sandven (So., Edina) to Charlie Barnick (So., Rosemount).
On the Johnnies’ first possession of the game, they moved the ball 50 yards in four plays, but Zach Jakes (Sr., North Mankato) tallied a sack fumble of his own, recovered by Trajan Kaeppe (Jr., Cottage Grove) at the Gustie 39. The ensuing Gustie drive stalled at the SJU 34 after five plays and the home team responded with an eight-play, 66-yard scoring drive, taking a 14-7 lead with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
The Gusties started the second quarter with a nine-play, 61-yard drive, capped by a five-yard pass from Sandven to Matthew Kipper (Sr., Bloomington) to tie the score 14-14 with 10:32 left in the half. The drive was kept alive by a 39-yard over-the-shoulder catch by Matthew Carreon (Sr., Houston, Texas) down the left sideline to move the chains on a third down.
Saint John’s answered with a 52-yard drive but settled for a 34-yard field goal, regaining a 17-14 advantage with six minutes left in the half. Gustavus punched right back with an eight-play, 65-yard scoring drive, finished off with a four-yard touchdown pass from Sandven to Tanner Rennie (Fy., Cape Coral, Fla.), taking a 21-17 lead with 2:05 left in the half. The Johnnies finished the first half with an eight-play, 65-yard drive of their own, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:04 left on the clock. Saint John’s took a 24-21 lead into the locker room at half.
The Johnnies opened the second half with the ball and drove 61 yards in 12 plays, extending their lead to 31-21 with 9:23 on the clock. The Gusties went three-and-out on the ensuing drive and a short punt gave the Johnnies a short field, which they took advantage of with another touchdown for a 38-21 lead.
Gustavus had another three-and-out on their second drive of the half, but the Johnnies muffed the punt return and the Gusties recovered at the SJU three-yard line. Rennie found the endzonne on the next play and after a missed PAT, the Gusties cut the Johnnie lead to 38-27 with 3:34 left in the quarter. On the first play of the ensuing Johnnie drive, Isaiah Chambers (Jr., Houston, Texas) went up and snagged an interception at the Gusties 30-yard line.
Saint John’s opened the fourth quarter with 14-play drive and settled for a 24-yard field goal with 10:08 on the clock, taking a 41-27 lead. Gustavus had some offensive momentum building midway through the fourth but an interception put an end to the drive and the home team was able to salt away the game.
The Johnnies outgained the Gusties 388-228 in total yards and won the time of possession battle 35:04-24:56. Sandven completed 17-of-31 passes for 166 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Carreon was the top target with three catches for 55 yards. Rohee Kondee (Jr., Hopkins) led the rushing attack with nine carries for 46 yards.
As they have done all season, Carson DeKam (Jr., Owatonna) and Jakes led the defensive effort with 15 and 10 tackles, respectively. Jakes added a sack fumble for a loss of 14 yards and had 1.5 TFLs.
Gustavus hosts Carleton next Saturday at 1 p.m. during its Hall of Fame Day.