By the numbers
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It's been a while
Carleton lost 29-19 at St. John's on Saturday but Knights quarterback Darren Caspers threw for 314 yards -- something the Johnnie defense hasn't allowed in a while. The last time St. John's allowed an opposing quarterback to throw for 300 yards or more was on Dec. 6, 2003 when Linfield's Tyler Matthews passed for 338 yards in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. SJU won the game 31-25.
Saturday forecast: mid- to high 90s
The West Region saw several players score some impressive touchdowns on Saturday with a handful going in for six from more than 90 yards away.
-> UW-Stout's Jesse Wendt returned a kickoff 90 yards to give Stout a 27-24 lead with 7:01 to play in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils eventually lost to UW-Platteville 31-27.
-> Linfield opened the scoring early against Willamette with a 97-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Scharer to Josh Vierra. Linfield packed a punch in its first win of the season, 42-14.
-> Gustavus Adolphus quarterback Jordan Stolp hit wide receiver Kerry Zajicek on a fly route down the right sideline for a 97-yard touchdown. The play tied a Gustavus mark for the longest touchdown completion originally set by Joe Thorvig and Ryan Hoag against St. Olaf in 2000.
-> Whittier running back Josh Scurlock scrambled 94 yards for a touchdown to give the Poets a 17-14 lead over Pomona-Pitzer. Pomona-Pitzer eventually won 24-17.
-> Hamline's Patrick Robinson returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown enroute to a 35-7 victory against Macalester.
High-five
Concordia-Moorhead running back Kevin Williamson was busy on Saturday in pushing the Cobbers past Augsburg 34-28 in an overtime barn burner. The senior carried the ball 31 times for 178 yards. He scored all five touchdowns, including the game winning 1-yard plunge in overtime, tying a school record originally set by Bob Beliveau on Nov. 18, 1978 against Northwestern (Minn.).
Mr. Everything
University of Dubuque senior Walner Belleus, amassed 331 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns to go along with nine tackles and an interception in Dubuque's 51-34 victory over Luther. He had six receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, returned two kickoffs for 105 yards including an 88-yard touchdown and returned one punt for a 73-yard touchdown. Belleus returned the interception 22 yards, had one carry for 8 yards and forced a fumble. It was the first win by Dubuque over Luther since 2001.
Keeping up with the Jones
Cal Lutheran quarterback Danny Jones had a career day in leading the Kingsmen to their tenth consecutive victory. The junior quarterback connected on 17-24 passes for 295 yards and a career high five touchdowns. He also scrambled for 12 yards and two more touchdowns. Jones hit four different receivers in his five touchdown display in routing La Verne 55-12.
One-liners
-> UW-Whitewater's defense held their opponents under 65 yards rushing for the fourth consecutive week.
-> Whitworth handed NAIA power Azusa Pacific its first loss against an NWC team in its last nine games.
-> St. Olaf held Gustavus Adolphus to just 12 rushing yards in a 41-13 victory.
-> Puget Sound quarterback Kavin Williams completed one pass for 9 yards in a 32-28 defeat by Pacific Lutheran.
-> St. John's pushed its overall record vs. Carleton to 24-0.
Game to Watch
No. 4 St. John's at St. Olaf, 1 p.m., Northfield, Minn.: Both teams entered the game in 2005 undefeated but the game didn't live up to the hype. St. John's trounced the Oles 63-9 in Collegeville. This year the teams clash in Northfield where the Oles beat them in 2004 in a rain-soaked battle. The Johnnies turned the ball over eight times in that game and lost 21-19. Again, these two teams enter undefeated with title hopes on the line. Look for a shootout and a late touchdown pass to decide this game.