Notables
-First time in program history the Saints played a ranked opponent during the regular season
-Total Yards: SJU 519, CSS 97
-Rushing Yards, SJU 291, CSS 11
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica football team managed only 97 yards of total offense and committed five turnovers in a 49-7 loss to open its season Saturday at No. 9 Saint John's University.
Slow Start
The Saints managed only one yard of total offense on nine plays in the opening quarter. CSS also threw two interceptions and one of those led to Saint John's second touchdown of the game.
The Johnnies scored on their first possession driving 50 yards on 11 plays capped off by a two-yard Antoine Taylor touchdown. Saint John's racked up 114 total yards in the quarter, but despite the yardage disparity, the Saints only trailed 7-0 entering the second quarter.
The Johnnies made it 14-0 on a Kai Barber one-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. The Johnnies made it 21-0 following a CSS fumble when Evan Clark caught a swing pass and ran it in from 22 yards out. That would be the score at the half.
First Half Stats
Saint John's had a 239-39 advantage in total offense at halftime. The Saints had 34 yards passing and five yards rushing. The Johnnies had 140 yards on the ground. CSS was only 1-for-8 on third downs and Johnnies 5-of-9.
Johnnies Put the Game Away Early in the Second Half
After scoring 21 points in the first half, the Johnnies would score 21 additional points in the first four minutes of the third quarter as the Clark had touchdown receptions of 22 and 68 yards. Ben Alvord also had a 14-yard touchdown run.
Saints Find the End Zone
Following a
Nick Jerhoff (Eagan, Minn./South St. Paul HS) fumble recovery off a fumbled punt inside the Saint John's 5-yard-line.
Eric Soderberg (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS) scrambled in from five yards out with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. A
Donovan Blatz (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) extra point made it 42-7. The Johnnies added a late rushing touchdown to make the final score 49-7.
Key Team Stats
Total Yards: SJU 519, CSS 97
Rushing Yards: SJU 291, CSS 11
Third Down Conversions: SJU 9-17, CSS 3-16
First Downs: SJU 22, CSS 7
Top Performances for CSS
Aaron Olson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) had three receptions for 45 yards.
Hunter Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) had three receptions for 33 yards.
Kyle Stepka (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS) threw for 46 yards in a relief of
Dakota Paulson (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie HS), who threw for 34 yards.
Jonathan Senger (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) led the team with nine tackles. His older brother
Jason Senger (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS (Gustavus Adolphus)) had eight tackles and averaged 41.8 yards on eight punts.
Top Performances for the Opponents
Quarterback Jackson Erdman threw for 210 yards on 14-of-22 attempts and three touchdowns. Clark had four receptions for 110 yards and three scores. Parker Anderson had 10 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss.
Up Next
The Saints will have their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opener next Saturday when it travels to face MacMurray College (Ill.) Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
