University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saint John's
Football rally falls short in 27-21 loss to Johnnies
9/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
The St. Thomas football team won the statistical battle but lost the war Saturday in their MIAC clash at St. John's.
A trick play for a 62-yard TD, a key interception return and a bad snap on a punt helped the Johnnies build a 27-7 lead and they held on to top St. Thomas 27-21 before a standing-room only crown at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.
Both teams are now 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC in a five-way tie for second place in the conference behind 3-0 Bethel. It was the Tommies' sixth consecutive loss in Collegeville and eighth loss in the last nine meetings in the series.
The Tommies outgained SJU in total offense, 406-228 yards, including 188 rushing yards by Jake Barkley on 36 carries. But their comeback fell short in the final minutes. Barkley, the leading rusher in NCAA Division III, now has surpassed 100 yards in 12 of his last 13 games.
The Tommies took the opening kickoff and drove 55 yards in 10 plays for a 7-0 lead. But SJU scored the next four TDs, turning a 20-7 halftime lead into a 27-7 cushion early in the third period. The first Johnnie TD came on a 62-yard halfback pass. An interception return and penalty gave the Johnnies the ball on the UST 11-yard line and set up another Johnnie TD. A bad snap on a punt let SJU takeover on the Tommie 30 and set up another TD.
The Tommies scored in the third period and early in the fourth to pull within 27-21. They later had 1st-and 10 at the SJU 28 with 5:00 to play, but a drive stalled and the Johnnies stopped them on four plays. UST was set to get one last possession in the final 2:00 when SJU's Charlie Carr boomed a 70-yard punt that rolled dead at the UST 6-yard-line. The Toms drove some but had a 13-yard completion to midfield negated by a penalty. A 4th-down pass was intercepted near midfield to end the last Tommie bid.
UST junior QB Nick Ambrasas completed 19-of-39 passes for 247 yards and two TDs with two picked off. Andrew Hilliard caught six passes for 79 yards. On defense, Matt Meunier picked off his third pass of the season and John Kaiser also had a pickoff. Andy Kaiser added 10 tackles and Sean O'Leary recorded two sacks.
The Tommies have their next two games at home -- next Saturday they face Augsburg, a 20-0 home-field winner today over previously-unbeaten St. Olaf. UST then plays the Oles for Homecoming Oct. 13.
The victory let the Johnnies avert a rare 0-3 home-field start to their season and keep alive their MIAC title and postseason hopes.
see St. Cloud Times Sunday news story here
see Sunday St. Cloud Times game story here
