COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – For the first time in 24 years, the Macalester College football team played Saint John's University in a MIAC game Saturday afternoon at Clemens Stadium. The Scots, who haven't beaten the Johnnies since 1968, struggled again in a 70-0 defeat to fall to 2-3 overall and 1-3 in MIAC play. Saint John's, ranked 11th in Division III, is now 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

Macalester had a difficult time on both sides of the ball, gaining just 175 yards while giving up 630 yards of total offense.

The Johnnies, who suffered their first loss of the season last weekend against Bethel, took control right off the bat by stopping the Scots on the first possession of the game and scoring a touchdown less than two minutes after kickoff. Saint John's tallied three touchdowns in the first quarter, then poured it on in the second quarter with five scores to take a 56-0 lead at halftime. A 21-yard interception return for a touchdown by Hudson Poole in the third quarter and a 64-yard touchdown run by Maverick Harper in the fourth closed out the scoring.

Macalester crossed midfield at the end of the third quarter and drove to the SJU 8-yard line. But a pair of sacks, including one on fourth down, ended the drive. On their last possession of the game, the Scots again moved the ball deep into Johnny territory, with first year running back Brennan Litchford (Milwaukee, Wis./Ronald Reagan) rushing six times for 35 yards. But again the drive stalled with an incomplete pass on 4th-and-1 at the SJU 7-yard line.

Litchford ran for 78 yards on 17 carries and first year running back David Frechette (Hanover, N.H./Hanover) rushed nine times for 36 yards. Sophomore quarterback Jack Scully (Menlo Park, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) completed 7-of-21 passes, with sophomore receiver Paxton Boyd (Newton, Mass./Newton South) and first year receiver Kelly Storms (San Anselmo, Calif./Marin Catholic) each catching three passes.

The defense was led by sophomore linebacker Dylan Jeppe (Glencoe, Ill./New Trier), who had nine tackles, one tackle-for-loss and a quarterback hurry. Senior linebacker Issam Rafidi (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) tallied six tackles, with senior defensive lineman Tommy McKissick (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) registering a 12-yard sack. Trey Feeney threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, and Joey Gendreau had six receptions for 115 yards and four touchdowns to lead Saint John's.

Macalester hosts Augsburg University in another MIAC game next Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium.