Thomas More falls to No. 4 St. John's in regular season finale

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (WKRC) – The Thomas More University football team fell, 63-23, to fourth-ranked St. John's University Saturday in the regular season finale at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, Minnesota.

St. John's took a 7-0 lead with 13:44 to play in the quarter when Jackson Erdmann connected on a 61-yard touchdown pass to Will Gillach and Zack Barwick added the point after attempt.

The Johnnies extended the lead to 14-0 when Erdmann and Gillach connected on a three-yard touchdown pass and Barwick add the PAT with 3:42 to play in the opening quarter.

Adam Essler scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Erdmann and Barwick added the PAT to increase St. John's lead to 21-0 with 2:38 to play in the quarter.

Thomas More made the score 21-3 with 14:12 to play in the quarter when junior kicker Cole Mathias (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) made a 30-yard field goal.

Kenneth Udoibok scored on a two-yard touchdown run and Barwick added the PAT to give the Johnnies a 28-3 lead with 11:51 to play in the second quarter.

St. John's extended the lead to 35-3 with 9:31 to play in the quarter when Erdmann connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Andrew VanErp and Barwick added the PAT.

Thomas More cut the lead to 35-10 when senior running back Luke Zajac (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights) scored on a five-yard touchdown run and Mathias made the PAT with 6:34 to play in the quarter.

St. John's made the score 42-10 when Jared Streit scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Erdmann and Barwick added the PAT with 1:41 to play in the first half.

The Johnnies extended the lead to 49-10 at halftime when Erdmann and Gillach connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass and Barwick added the PAT with 1:01 to play in the second quarter.

St. John's increased the lead to 56-10 when Erdmann and Gillach connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass and Barwick added the PAT with 14:44 to play in the quarter.

Thomas More made the score 56-17 with 9:05 to play in the third quarter when junior quarterback Justin Post (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) connected with junior wide receiver Da'marco Canty (Bogart, Ga./North Oconee) on an eight-year touchdown pass and junior kicker Alex Barnhart (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) made the PAT.

The Johnnies extended the lead to 63-17 when Udoibok scored on a one-yard run and Barwick added the PAT with 8:05 to play in the game.

The Saints answered with 3:19 to play in the game when Post connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Will Thompson (Franklin, Tenn./Father Ryan) and Barnhart's PAT failed for the final score of 63-23.

The Saints finish the regular season 7-3.

St. John's improve to 10-0.

Thomas More had 317 yards of total offense (139 rushing/178 passing), while St. John's had 454 yards (163 rushing/291 passing).

Post was 14-of-30 passing for 178 yard and two touchdowns.

Zajac led the rushing attack with 16 carries for 82 yard and a touchdown.

Senior running back Hjavier Pitts (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Healthy) had 16 carries for 68 yards and pulled in five catches for 56 yards.

Canty led the receiving corps with four catches for 75 yard and a touchdown.

First-year linebacker Peyton Van Horn (Hebron, Ky./Conner) led defense with nine tackles (six solo/three assisted) and forced a fumble.

Senior linebacker Adam Guard (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Pinecrest Academy (Ga.)) had eight tackles (three solo/five assisted).

Thomas More will find out on Sunday (November 11) if it receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Playoff.

The NCAA will announce the bracket at 5:30 p.m. with an online show atwww.ncaa.com.

Information provided by Thomas More Athletics.