Dominic Bourgeois kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to lift Susquehanna to a 41-38 victory over host St. John’s on Saturday in the third round of the Division III playoffs.
The loss was the first of the season for the Johnnies (11-1), the top overall seed. Susquehanna (11-1) will play host to Bethel next Saturday in the D-III quarterfinals in Selinsgrove, Pa.
The field goal capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive, which started at the Susquehanna 25-yard line with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining after the Johnnies had tied the score at 38-38 on Aaron Syverson’s 19-yard TD pass to Marselio Mendez.
Syverson completed 37 of 46 passes for 466 yards and five TDs. His 10-yard TD pass to Dylan Wheeler put St. John’s up 24-17 early in the second half, but the River Hawks responded with touchdowns on three of their next four possessions for a 38-24 lead.
Syverson’s 16-yard TD pass to Joey Gendreau pulled St. John’s within 38-31 with 6½ minutes left.
Rahshan La Mons rushed for 176 yards and three TDs for the River Hawks.
Bethel 24, Wartburg 14: Cooper Drews passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns and the Royals (11-2) intercepted three passes, including a 59-yard return for a score from Matt Jung in the fourth quarter, to outlast the Knights (10-2) in Waverly, Iowa.
Drews’ 7-yard TD pass to Aaron Ellingson in the first quarter and 14-yard TD pass to Joey Kidder with 24 seconds remaining in the second helped Bethel open a 17-7 halftime lead.