Late rally falls short as Saint John’s closes out tight season opener
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — In a game that swung back and forth until the final minutes, Saint John’s University escaped with a 24‑21 victory over UW‑La Crosse on Saturday, a result that propelled the Johnnies up the Division III rankings and ended a long run of winning Week 1 openers for the Eagles.
The scoreboard tells a narrow story, but the box score and the late drama underline how close this season‑opening matchup was. The Johnnies climbed three places to No. 8 in the latest D3football.com poll, while UW‑La Crosse dropped two spots to No. 12.
Saint John’s built a lead late in the fourth quarter and then withstood a furious comeback attempt. With under three minutes remaining, UW‑La Crosse quarterback Kyle Haas connected with Calahan Miles on an 8‑yard touchdown pass and then completed a two‑point conversion to pull the Eagles within three at 24‑21 with 2:44 left on the clock.
"Saint John’s, however, recovered the ensuing onside kick at UW‑L’s 47‑yard line and picked up two first downs to run out the clock."
That onside kick recovery proved decisive. Saint John’s converted two first downs and drained the remaining clock time to secure the win.
How the game unfolded
UW‑La Crosse opened the scoring on the game’s initial drive when Braeden Ott punched it in from 2 yards out. Saint John’s answered on its opening possession and carried momentum into the half, taking a 17‑10 lead following a 6‑yard touchdown pass with just nine seconds left in the second quarter.
The Eagles tried to rally through the ground game but were largely stifled, finishing with just 35 rushing yards on 26 carries. The bulk of UW‑L’s offence came through the air, where Haas went 25‑for‑42 for 332 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Brodie Mickschl hauled in eight passes for 142 yards, while Miles finished with four receptions for 81 yards and the late scoring catch.
On the other side, Saint John’s quarterback Trey Fenney threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns, and the Johnnies outgained the Eagles 447‑367 in total offence.
| Team | Total Yards | Passing Yards (Top QB) | Rushing Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint John’s | 447 | 386 (T. Fenney) | (not specified) |
| UW‑La Crosse | 367 | 332 (K. Haas) | 35 |
Consequences and context
For Saint John’s, the win is a clear statement in a season opener — not just for the victory, but for the jump to a top‑10 ranking. For UW‑La Crosse, the loss is notable because it snapped an 11‑game winning streak in season openers; the Eagles had not lost a Week 1 game since 2013. That 2013 matchup was also the backdrop for current UW‑L head coach Michael Zweifel, for whom Saturday marked a head coaching debut; the source notes he served as an assistant at Dubuque during that 2013 season opener.
The late‑game sequence highlighted special teams’ swing potential. The failed onside attempt at the end — recovered by Saint John’s — underlined how small margins alter outcomes in close games. For UW‑La Crosse, the passing game produced big yardage but the inability to run the ball effectively limited the play‑clock management and the time‑of‑possession advantage that often helps late comebacks.
- Final score: Saint John’s 24, UW‑La Crosse 21
- Ranking moves: Saint John’s to No. 8; UW‑La Crosse to No. 12
- Key performers: Trey Fenney (386 passing yards, 3 TD); Kyle Haas (332 passing yards)
UW‑La Crosse (0‑1) has little time to reflect; the Eagles return home for their next game, a 1 p.m. home‑opener Saturday against No. 14 Hardin‑Simmons. For Saint John’s, the win provides momentum and a rise in national attention as the Division III season settles into the first full weekend of play.
In this close, hard‑fought opener, the final onside kick recovery and two subsequent first downs were the thin thread between triumph and heartbreak — a reminder that in football, as in life on this island, timing and grit often write the final lines.
