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| Deion Jones' two
interceptions helped keep the Pointers on point. UW-Stevens Point athletics photo by Jack McLaughlin |
The last time UW-Stevens Point made the postseason, the Pointers upset a team ranked in the top five.
Stevens Point hopes history repeats itself following a 34-27 upset win over No. 5 North Central (Ill.) Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 3,370 at Goerke Park.
“We’re really fortunate. Our kids really played hard. Our coaches had some great plans,” UW-SP head coach Tom Journell said. “Our players really responded. That’s a great football team that we played.
“It’s nice to win,” he added. “But when you win against a really good team, it’s even more satisfying with all the hard work that you put in.”
But the Pointers are not taking anything for granted even though they have a 3-0 overall record heading into WIAC play.
“We understand what our goals are. This is just another game,” Journell said. “The real season begins his week with our conference.”
UW-Stevens Point turned in a great defensive effort in order to overcome a 24-16 deficit in the second half.
Corner back Deion Jones led that charge, hauling in two of the Pointers’ four interceptions on the day.
“The coaches gave us a pretty good game plan and had us set on what we needed to do and what we needed to stop,” Jones said. “Then it was just down to us to execute and do what we needed to do to come away with a victory.”
Jones returned his second pick of the day 36 yards to the Cardinals’ 19-yard line to set up the go-ahead score.
“I was manned up on Pete Sorenson. He’s a phenomenal player,” Jones said. “I think he just had a fade route, and his timing with the quarterback was just off. I read the ball and made a play on it.”
Jake Menzel punched the ball in four plays later to put UW-Stevens Point up 31-24.
“I felt like the momentum was going our way a lot during the game – after the big plays we made on offense and defense,” Jones said.
Kyle Larson finished the game with 302 yards passing and two touchdowns to help complete the comeback. Wide receiver Matt Sosinsky went over the century mark for the third time this season, catching nine passes for 145 yards and a score; Logan Taylor added 10 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown; and kicker Jesse Vervelde converted all four of his field goal attempts.
“We’re making great decisions. We’re taking care of the football. When you can take care of the football and execute the offense and take what the defense gives you – if you can do that a high level, you’re going to have opportunities to win a lot of games,” Journell said. “We’re doing that right now.”
The Pointers came up with three fourth down stops, including a fourth-and-1 at the NCC 47-yard line to seal the win with 1:25 to play. Stevens Point also registered four quarterback sacks, including 2.5 by Aaron Karlen.
But the Pointers’ coach felt the four interceptions were the defense’s most important contribution.
“I think anytime that you’re able to take the ball away, that’s always a key,” Journell said. “That was huge – just for momentum swings.”
Journell applauded Jones’ effort, especially considering how new he is to the defensive lineup.
“Deion is replacing a senior starter that broke his leg in the first week against Albion – Dan Wall. It’s great to have depth and great talent,” Journell said. “You just never know when it’s going to be your time. When it is your time, we expect you to perform at the same level as the current starter. And he’s done that.
“He plays confidently. That’s what you need in a corner,” the coach continued. “He has really blossomed and we’re really excited for his development.”
Jones said working with Wall helped him be prepared to take on a starting role.
“It was a big step up for me,” Jones said. “I really took coaching from Dan. And once he went down, I knew it was my turn to step in.”
Saturday’s victory – which was the program’s first win over a top-10 team since knocking off No. 2 UW-Whitewater on Oct. 25, 2008 – UW-Stevens Point was launched into the national spotlight.
The Pointers are ranked No. 17 in the latest Top 25. But Journell cautioned his players not to get wrapped up in the poll.
“It’s a great honor. There’s no doubt. It’s great for recruiting. It’s great for alumni,” he said. “The only ranking that matters is at the end of the year.
“We can’t become overconfident,” Journell added. “You can’t be too high or too low, regardless of what happened last week. In this conference, it’s going to be a great test for us to be steady and to play one game at a time.”
UW-Stevens Point begins conference play Saturday at UW-River Falls.
St. John’s hoists the Holy Grail
In front of a record crowd of 12,483 people at O’Shaugnessy Stadium, visiting St. John’s upset rival St. Thomas for the second year in a row, claiming a 24-14 win and retaining the Holy Grail Trophy.
The Johnnies built a 21-7 lead as Nick Martin threw his second touchdown pass of the game midway through the third quarter. Then St. John’s defense dug in.
Matt Workman had three sacks and a forced fumble in the fourth quarter alone as the Johnnies forced four turnovers in the final 15 minutes to protect the lead.
Martin finished the game 11-of-16 for 162 yards with touchdown passes to Josh Bungum and Zach Sundly. Running back Sam Sura added 210 yards rushing and a touchdown on 36 attempts.
“I’ve got to credit (offensive coordinator) Jim Gagliardi and (assistants) Kole Heckendorf, Jim Mader and Jake Essler,” St. John’s head coach Gary Fasching told the St. Cloud Times after beating UST for the second time since taking over the football program in 2013. “Those four put together a great game plan. They studied film like crazy. They knew what they wanted to do. And they didn’t veer from it.”
The Johnnies will try to keep their momentum going at home Saturday when Hamline visits. St. Thomas will try for its first MIAC win Saturday at St. Olaf.
Boxers grounded
Pacific’s game with the University of Chicago was called off when the Boxers’ flight to Midway Airport was cancelled.
A fire deliberately started at the FAA’s main ground control center forced the cancellation of the flight. The fire was set in a regional radar facility in Aurora, Ill., just outside of Chicago. The radar center helps guide planes in and out of Chicago’s airports.
Pacific does not need to rely on a flight for its next game. The Boxers will celebrate their homecoming and open Northwest Conference play vs. Whitworth on Saturday at Hanson Stadium.
The rest of the West
Buena Vista scored three straight touchdowns to start both halves of its 55-28 win at NAIA Waldorf. Bobby Brown passed for 396 yards and four touchdowns, Gunner Gilland and Ben Seitz each went over 100 yards receiving and Dylan Barrett rushed for 168 yards in the Beavers’ first win of the year. … Dalton Ritchey threw for 244 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 81 yards and four scores in Pacific Lutheran’s 38-14 non-conference win at Trinity (Texas). … With 16 seconds left in the game, Blake Roberts threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Beau Anderson to give Eureka a 17-10 win over UMAC rival Minnesota-Morris. It was the Red Devils’ first win of the season. … Concordia-Moorhead topped St. Olaf 52-14 to retain the Troll Trophy and remain undefeated on the year. … Chris Simon-Wallace returned the opening kickoff 93 yards and undefeated Northwestern (Minn.) built a 40-0 lead en route to beating UMAC rival Crown 40-14. … Chapman dealt Whitman its first loss of the season in non-conference play. The Panthers scored 28 straight points spanning the second and third quarters and caused four turnovers on their way to their first win of the year. … St. Scholastica trailed Westminster (Mo.) 17-3 in the second quarter, but the Saints rallied to win the UMAC contest, 31-24, and stay unbeaten. … Brandon Marquardt returned the second half kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, helping Bethel beat Carleton 38-7.
Rank ’em
The West Region has 10 teams ranked in the Top 25 this week.
Most notably are newcomers UW-Stevens Point and St. John’s following their aforementioned upset victories. The Pointers debut at No. 17 in the poll while the Johnnies are ranked No. 23.
Idle UW-Whitewater remained ranked No. 1, receiving all 25 first place votes. Linfield and Wartburg both moved up one spot to Nos. 5 and 8, respectively.
Bethel rose three spots to No. 12 and Pacific Lutheran climbed two spots to No. 14
UW-Platteville is ranked one spot behind rival Stevens Point at No. 18, falling five spots from last week. A trio of MIAC teams fills out the Top 25. Concordia-Moorhead climbed three spots to No. 22, followed by St. John’s and No. 24 St. Thomas.
Chapman (40), Simpson (21) and Willamette (19) also received votes this week.
Number of the week
16 – As in the number of consecutive completions Mitch Hendricks threw to begin his big day Saturday. The Gustavus Adolphus quarterback completed 33-of-39 passes for 504 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the Gusties clobber Augsburg, 55-17, and improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in MIAC play. Hendricks’ 504 yards broke his own school record of 443 set a week ago versus Hamline, and his seven touchdowns broke the previous school mark of six set by Bob Southworth in 1999. He also tied the Gusties’ record for completions in a game.
Looking ahead
Both No. 5 Linfield and No. 14 Pacific Lutheran will play their first Northwest Conference game of the season when the rivals meet in Tacoma, Wash. The Wildcats, who have not lost a conference game since 2008, have won 14-straight meetings with Pac Lutheran.
Also George Fox will play its first Northwest Conference game since reinstituting its football program Friday night under the lights at Willamette.
No. 22 Concordia-Moorhead will play at No. 12 Bethel in a meeting of MIAC unbeatens. Both teams enter with 2-0 league records.
Northwestern (Minn.) plays at St. Scholastica on Saturday. Both teams are tied with Greenville atop the UMAC with 3-0 league records.
Conference play begins in the IIAC, SCIAC and WIAC this weekend. Defending IIAC champion Wartburg will travel to Pella, Iowa, to take on Central. There will be a pair of SCIAC games in Claremont, Calif., Saturday. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps will host Chapman in the afternoon while Pomona-Pitzer hosts defending league champion Redlands at night. Defending WIAC and national champion UW-Whitewater opens its conference season at home vs. UW-La Crosse on Saturday.
Be heard
Do you have a story idea for the Around the West column? Contact me about approaching milestones, broken records, break-out players or any other storylines in the West. Or just drop me a note and let me know what you like or don’t about the column. All ideas and feedback are welcome. Email me at josh.smith@d3sports.com or follow me on Twitter at @DU_Josh_Smith.
