COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Gustavus football team couldn’t overcome a 34-point first half deficit during a 41-17 loss against the No. 7/8-ranked Saint John’s University Johnnies Saturday afternoon at Clemens Stadium.
The loss drops the Gusties to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Johnnies improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the league.
Saint John’s did all of its damage in the first half, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and 20 in the second, while holding the Gusties to one touchdown to own a 41-7 lead at the halfway mark. The Johnnies used a strong aerial attack as each of their scores were passing touchdowns, totaling 365 passing yards and 523 yards of total offense.
Karim Ortiz (Sr., Cancun, Mexico) scored the sole Gustie touchdown of the first half, rushing in from one-yard out for his second score of the season.
In the second half, the Black and Gold defense held strong while totaling two scores in the final frame. Brendan Boche (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) picked up a 34-yard field goal, followed by another one-yard touchdown run Ortiz.
Ortiz finished the game with 83 rushing yards on 22 attempts to go along with his two touchdowns. In his second game in the starting quarterback role, Hunter Johnson (Sr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) passed for 145 yards while rushing for 21.
Drew Fredericksen (Sr., Forsyth, Ill.) and Matt Berkner (Jr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) led the defensive effort with seven tackles each. Fredericksen’s seven tackles is a career-high while he added a pass breakup. Berkner also recorded a sack and one tackle for loss.
Next up, Gustavus returns to Hollingsworth Field next Saturday to host St. Olaf College.