MINNEAPOLIS – Despite an impressive outing that saw the Auggies tally 405 total yards of offense, the Augsburg University football team fell to Saint John's University, ranked seventh in the d3football.com poll and ninth in the AFCA Coaches Poll, 24-27 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Action on Saturday at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Saint John's 27, Augsburg 24
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 3-1 overall (1-1 MIAC), Saint John's 3-1 (2-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• After the Augsburg defense forced a punt by the Johnnies on the game's opening possession, the Auggie offense marched down the field on a 12 play, 97-yard drive lasting over six minutes, and capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown reception by Dominic Smith (JR, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) to give Augsburg a 6-0 lead in the game.
• Following one punt by each team, the Johnnies got on the board with a 64-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, taking a 7-6 lead. The Auggie offense was stopped in its tracks on the ensuing drive, failing to convert on a fourth-and-six opportunity from the Saint John's 39-yard line. The Johnnies took full advantage of the turnover on downs, putting together another efficient drive capped off by a four-yard touchdown run to take a 14-6 lead that would hold for the remainder of the half.
• Receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, Augsburg managed another impressive drive, covering 74 yards in 12 plays and punctuating it with a two-yard touchdown run by Tre Lee (SR, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS). The Auggies attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game, but the pass attempt fell incomplete as the Johnnies clung to a 14-12 lead.
• Saint John's managed another touchdown on the following drive to extend the lead, but a missed extra point kept the Auggies within one possession at 20-12 with 4:59 remaining in the third. The Auggies put together yet another extended drive on their next possession, marching 75 yards on fifteen plays and converting on fourth down on three occasions before Cade Sheehan (SR, Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) found Tyrone Wilson (SO, Ellendale, Minn./New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva HS) for a seven-yard touchdown strike. Another failed two-point conversion attempt would keep it 20-18 in favor of the Johnnies.
• The Johnnies responded quickly once again, scoring on a 47-yard touchdown pass to take a 27-18 lead. Now down by two possessions, Augsburg embarked on a 15-play, 88-yard drive covering more than six minutes before finding the end zone on a touchdown pass to Tyrique Givance (JR, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS), making it 27-24 in favor of Saint John's. The Johnnies received the subsequent kickoff and successfully moved the sticks two times, proving to be enough to run out the clock and ice the win.
• The Auggies outgained the Johnnies 405 to 398 offensively, and Augsburg dominated the ground game with 170 rushing yards to the Johnnies' 31.
• Sheehan had another strong afternoon as Augsburg's signal caller, completing 23 of his 35 passing attempts for 214 yards and three touchdowns and rushing 16 times for 54 additional yards. Wilson finished as his top target on the day with six catches for 62 yards and a score while Smith was just behind him with five receptions for 60 yards and a score. For Givance, his first touchdown as an Auggie came on his first catch with the team, and his lone reception on the day.
• DJ Monroe (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) led the Augsburg ground game, logging 14 carries for 80 yards in the game. Lee punched in the lone rushing touchdown of the day for the Auggies, gaining 24 yards on eight carries.
• Defensively, Tramone Nevels (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest HS) led the way with eight tackles for the Auggies. Jax Bokman (SO, Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy HS) finished with seven tackles, including one for loss, and Justin Tverberg (SR, Farmington, Minn./Hastings HS) and Hamsa Kahin (JR, Eden Prairie, Minn./Edina HS) had one sack each.

FOR THE FOES
• Saint John's quarterback Aaron Syverson completed 25 of his 37 pass attempts for 367 yards and four touchdown passes in the game, also gaining 12 yards on five rush attempts.
• Nick VanErp hauled in four catches for 108 yards and a score while Marselio Mendez caught three passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Wheel was the only Johnny receiver with multiple scores, catching eight passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
• Cooper Yaggie led all players in the game with 13 total tackles.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg will cross the river to St. Paul next week for a MIAC showdown with Hamline in the annual battle for "The Hammer" traveling trophy.