COLLEGEVILLE – Running back Dusty Krueger’s 1-yard scoring plunge as time elapsed propelled the No. 9-ranked St. John’s Johnnies to a 32-31 comeback victory over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville during the first-round NCAA Division III football playoffs on Saturday.

Senior linebacker Carter Hanson, former Blue Earth Area High School standout, made a team-high 11 tackles and an interception to pace the Johnnies’ defense.

Hanson and St. John’s (10-1) play the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at noon Saturday in Oshkosh in second-round D-III playoff action.

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The Minnesota Gophers downed the Northwestern Wildcats, 29-12, during Big Ten football action Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Starting right tackle Jonah Pirsig, former Blue Earth Area High School standout, and the Gophers’ offensive line paced a 328-yard total yards performance.

Pirsig and the Gophers (8-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) travel to Madison, Wis., Saturday to face the Wisconsin Badgers in a 2:30 p.m. Big Ten contest.

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Minnesota State University, Mankato post player Claire Ziegler produced a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds to guide the Mavericks to an 89-64 women’s basketball victory over Missouri Southern State on Saturday at the Taylor Center in Mankato.

MSU freshman forward Rachel Shumski, former Granada-Huntley-East Chain standout, delivered eight points, three rebounds and one assist in the victory.

Shumski and the Mavericks (2-0) travel to Spearfish, S.D., Friday to face Black Hills State in a 5 p.m. tipoff.