DIVISION III St. John's earns rematch with MU

The Johnnies lost to the Purple Raiders 10-7 in the 2000 title game.
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) -- Josh Nelson caught three touchdown passes and ran for a fourth score, leading St. John's, Minn., to a 38-10 victory over RPI in the NCAA Division III semifinals Saturday.
The Johnnies gave coach John Gagliardi his 413th career win and advanced to face Mount Union in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl next Saturday in Salem, Va. Three-time defending champion Mount Union routed Bridgewater 66-0 in the other semifinal.
Nelson, who ranked third on the Johnnies with 291 receiving yards entering the game, caught eight passes for a career-best 192 yards.
Nelson scored on an 80-yard reception, catching the ball at the 50 and outrunning defenders for the score.
His second score came on a six-yard screen pass late in the third quarter that put St. John's (13-0) ahead for good.
In the fourth quarter, Nelson caught a short pass in a crowd at the 1 yard line and muscled into the end zone, then capped the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run as St. John's earned its 22nd straight win at Clemens Stadium.
St. John's will be making its first trip to the championship game since 2000, when they lost 10-7 to Mount Union.
The Johnnies, making their 15th postseason appearance, last won a national title in 1976 when they beat Towson 31-28.
One-sided game
RPI (11-2) had little success against St. John's defense.
Quarterback Dan Cole was repeatedly chased out of the pocket. Averaging 286 passing yards, Cole was 26-for-46 for 237 yards with two interceptions.
St. John's Cole Delbele returning one pick 36 yards for a score.
The Engineers had won two straight playoff games, the first postseason football victories in school history.
Trailing 7-0, Cole avoided a furious rush and led RPI on an 11-play, 66-yard drive that was capped by a 21-yard pass to Dan Stephens. Following a St. John's turnover, one of three in the game, the Engineers went ahead on a 28-yard field goal by Matt Verenini.
St. John's also had trouble moving the ball in the first half, getting into RPI territory only twice following Keating's first touchdown pass to Nelson.
Brandon Keller kicked a 32-yard field goal for the Johnnies that tied the game at 10.