Collegeville, Minn. – R.J. Jackson rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown and the Carleton defense forced four Johnnie turnovers, but the Knights' offense couldn't get on track in a 41-7 loss to St. John's.
The Knights (1-1, 0-1 MIAC) managed only 114 yards of total offense in the game. Their lone score came on a 17-play drive that lasted more than nine minutes, culminating in Jackon's 1-yard run.
Sophomore Jerad Phelps paced the Knights' defense with 11 stops and Nick Brokke added eight tackles, a forced fumble and pass break-up. Luke Muellerleile added seven tackled to go with a leaping interception in the end zone, stopping a SJU drive, while Pat Frett, Rich Juelich and Randy Foss all recovered fumbles.
The game started out on a promising note for the Knights as Foss recovered a fumble by SJU quarterback Alex Kofoed at the Johnnie 46-yard line. In what would be a thee throughout the day, the Knights' offense was unable to take advantage of the opportunity and field position and was forced to punt.
The hosts broke through late in the first quarter, as Kofoed hooked up with Corey Weber from 16 yards out, putting the Johnnies in front 7-0. SJU was driving again early in the second but Muellerleile picked Kofoed off in the end zone. After the SJU defense forced the Knights to punt, they'd score midway through the second quarter as Kyle Gearman hauled in a 14-yard pss from Kofoed. The hosts tacked on a late touchdown, as Kofoed and Weber hooked up again, this time from 10 yards out, to make the halftime score 20-0.
Two Carleton turnovers in the third quarter sealed the Knights' fate. Quarterback Darren Caspers was sacked and fumbled, with SJU recovering. Weber would punch it in from 12 yards out two plays later. At the seven-minute mark of the quarter, Juelich recovered another Kofoed fumble, giving the Knights the ball at the SJU 36-yard line. On the second play of the drive Jackson was stripped of the ball and Brian Adamek returned the fumble 68 yards for the score.
Carleton's lone scoring drive started late in the third quarter. The Knights converted on a fourth-down play when Caspers hit Wade Thompson for 10 yards. Jackson's 11-yad burt put the ball inside the 5-yard line, and he carried two more times to put the ball in the end zone.
Carleton opens its home schedule next Saturday, Sept. 24, hosting the defending MIAC champion Concordia College, Moorhead, at 1 p.m. at Laird Stadium.
