Spartans Aim for First Ever Win in NCAA Playoff Rematch
Nov 20, 2015
Game Info
at #10 St. John’s University
Clemens Stadium – 12:00 PM
Collegeville, Minn.
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Spartans - @UDubuqueSports
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DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Spartans get a chance to avenge a season-opening 45-9 loss and knock off the NCAA’s winningest program, St. John’s, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Going into Saturday’s matchup, the Spartans ride an eight-game winning streak while the Johnnies have won their last six. UD hopes to utilize its momentum for its first NCAA postseason win in its fourth attempt. Meanwhile, St. John’s is no stranger to the big stage in its 10th playoff appearance since 2000, including the national title in 2003.
Expect a rowdy crowd at Clemens Field that boasted an average of 8500+ fans in six home games. The Johnnies set the all-time Division III single-game attendance record with 17,327 fans in loss to rival St. Thomas earlier this season.
UD will turn to its school record of 17 All-IIAC award winners in boasting a balanced offense, a shut down defense, and an much-improved quarterback in Rio Johnson. The Atlanta, Ga. native has been lights out since a shaky start at the St. John’s and was named Second Team All-Iowa Conference while finishing as the most efficient QB in the league.
Johnson pioneers an offense that has rolled up 500+ yards of total offense in two of its last three games and scored 38+ points in its last five.
The Spartan defense will hold its own as the IIAC’s No. 1 scoring and total defense against a Johnnies team that runs the ball over twice as much as it airs it out. St. John’s stand-out running back Sam Sura led the MIAC with 1476 rushing yards on 253 carries and is among the national leaders in touchdowns with 23. The senior rumbled to 152 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown in the opener against a Spartan defense that will have the services of IIAC Defensive MVP and linebacker Blaine Snitker, who sat out the opener due to injury.
Keeping QB Nick Martin (70.6 comp. %, 1649 yards, 18 touchdowns) and the Johnnies offense in check early will be key after the Spartans faced a 31-0 deficit late in the first half. Overall, St. John’s scored on 7-of-12 possessions with seven points off turnovers.
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE
2015 IOWA CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Record: 8-2, 7-0 IIAC
Head Coach: Stan Zweifel | 7th year - [40-31, 32-20 IIAC] | Career – [72-57-2]
Rankings: 18/25 (D3football.com/AFCA Rankings)
ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
Record: 9-1, 7-1 MIAC
MIAC Finish: 2nd
Head Coach: Gary Fasching | [26-6, 19-5 MIAC ]
Rankings: 10/11 (D3Football.com/AFCA rankings)
Summary
|
2015 SEASON STATS |
ST. JOHN’S |
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE |
|
Overall Record |
9-1 |
8-2 |
|
Conf. Record |
7-1 |
7-0 |
|
Avg. Points |
39.7 (3) |
30.0 (4) |
|
Avg. Points Allowed |
13.6 (2) |
21.3 (1) |
|
Pass O ypg |
184.6 (7) |
254.0 (4) |
|
Pass D |
180.9 (2) |
223.5 (3) |
|
Rush O |
220.7 (4) |
163.1 (5) |
|
Rush D |
120.7 (2) |
123.7 (1) |
Common Opponents
|
ST. JOHN’S |
Common Opponent |
UD |
|
56-7 |
W Buena Vista W |
44-13 |
|
Season Stat Leaders |
ST. JOHN’S |
UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE |
|
Passing |
#89 QB Martin |
#16 QB Johnson |
|
Rushing |
#31 RB Sura |
#20 RB Herrion |
|
Receiving |
#1 WR Bungum |
#15 WR Bagley |
|
Defense |
#37 LB Matuska |
#27 LB Stauner |
|
Kicking |
#19 K Johnson |
#31 K Prull |
Last Meeting
2015 at St. John’s
St. John’s won 45-9
SJU RB Sura – 18 car, 152 yds, 8.4 avg, 1 TD
SJU QB Martin – 14-18, 138 yds, 1 TD … 6 car, 25 yds, 2 TD
UD QB Johnson – 15-30, 159 yds, 1 INT
UD RB Vance-Jenkins – 21 car, 85 yds, 0 TD
-Johnnies sprinted out to 31-0 lead before Prull FG right before halftime
-First 4 possessions: SJU - 24 pts, UD - 0 pts (all 3-and-outs)
-UD’s only TD was Arvanitakis 1-yd run at 1:03 in 3rd
-Both Herrion and Snitker didn’t play
-Crowd of 7,000+
-Total Yds: SJU 404, UD 311
-Penalties: SJU 7-54 yds, UD 10-110 yds
History Books
UD trails 1-0
-Matchup in NCAA 1st round is 2nd meeting of all-time
NCAA Postseason History
UD
Appearances: 3
Record: 0-3
Last: L, 13-59 North Central (Ill.) in 2011 NCAA 1st Round
St. John’s
Appearances: 26 (22 in Division III)
Record: 40-20
Last: L, 10-21 Wartburg in 2014 NCAA 2nd Round
1963, 1965 NAIA National Champions
1976, 2003 Division III National Champions
9 Division III National Semifinal appearances
Running Back U
-Both Universities feature stellar lines and explosive backs
-Combined 37 rushing TDs in 17 games with NO turnovers
|
Back |
Games |
Rush |
Yds |
YPC |
TDs |
Best Game |
|
UD Maurece Herrion |
7 |
167 |
811 |
4.9 |
14 |
140 yds, 4 TDs vs. #19 Wartburg |
|
SJU Sam Sura |
10 |
253 |
1476 |
5.8 |
23 |
181 yds, 4 TDs vs. St. Olaf |
Herrion – 1+ TD and 73+ yds in all seven career games, 2nd in IIAC in rush TDs and rush ypg, leads in ppg (12.0)
Sura – Scored 1+ TD in every game but one, leads MIAC in rushes and yds, 2nd in ppg (14.4)
Fast and Furious
-The Johnnies roll over opponents early and score 64.0% of their points (254 of 397) in the first half
-Opponents score a majority of their points when it’s too late
|
Score by Quarter |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Total |
|
St. John’s |
29.0% |
35.0% |
19.4% |
16.6% |
100% |
|
115 |
139 |
77 |
66 |
397 |
|
|
Opponents |
14 |
41 |
27 |
54 |
136 |
|
10.2% |
30.1% |
20.0% |
39.7% |
100% |
Balancing Act
-Balance is key for the Spartans against a run-heavy St. John’s led by one of the nation’s best in RB Sam Sura
|
Team |
Pass/Rush plays |
Ratio |
Pass-Rush TD |
Ratio |
|
St. John’s |
199/438 |
0.45 |
20-33 |
0.61 |
|
UD |
297/383 |
0.78 |
18-20 |
0.90 |
Honor Roles
-Both teams have made a habit out of IIAC/MIAC weekly honors
St. John’s
|
Date |
Opponent/Results |
Discipline |
Player |
Performance |
|
Oct. 26 |
Vs. Carleton/W 56-0 |
Offense/ST |
RS/WR Josh Bungum |
4 rec, 145 yds, 2 TDs |
|
Oct. 5 |
Vs. Hamline/W 41-21 |
Offense |
RB Sam Sura |
31 car, 175 yds, 4 TDs |
|
Sept. 14 |
Vs. Buena Vista/W 56-7 |
Special Teams |
RS/WR Josh Bungum |
3 punt returns, 19.8 avg, 3 rec, 54 yds, 1 TD |
|
Defense |
LB Carter Hanson |
9 TKLs, 1 Sack, 2 TFL, 1 FR |
UD
|
Date |
Opponent/Results |
Discipline |
Player |
Performance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oct. 20 |
Vs. #5 Wartburg/W 45-13 |
Offense |
RB Maurece Herrion |
31 car, 140 yds, 4 TDs, all career-highs |
|
Defense |
DL Malachi Ward |
Fum. Rec. TD, 3.0 sacks, held Wartburg to 21 yds rushing |
||
|
Oct. 6 |
Vs. Luther/W 16-14 |
Defense |
LB Blaine Snitker |
Career-high 21 tkls in season debut, missed 1st 3 games due to injury |
