St. John's, Bethel advance in college football playoffs

The first round of the NCAA Division III college football playoffs are underway, and third-ranked St. John's rolled to an 84-6 win over Martin Luther College on Saturday in Collegeville.

The Johnnies (11-0) scored a program-record 42 points in the first quarter, and led 56-6 at halftime. Quarterback Jackson Erdmann threw for 289 yards and six touchdowns, each to a different receiver. Zach Ernst rushed for two touchdowns.

St. John's host a second-round game next Saturday against the winner of a playoff game between Claremont-Mudd-Scripps of California and Whitworth University of Spokane, Wash.

Martin Luther College, of New Ulm, finishes the season 10-2; both of the Knights' losses came to St. John's.

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Bethel University 41, Wartburg College 14

In Arden Hills, Minn., on Saturday, Bethel University defeated visiting Wartburg College 41-14. Jaran Roste rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns for the Royals, while Mike Delich added two rushing touchdowns.

Bethel (10-1) advances to a second-round game next weekend at North Central College in Illinois.

Division II: Texas A&M Commerce 33, Minnesota Duluth 17

In Duluth on Saturday, the host Bulldogs fell to visiting Texas A&M University-Commerce in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. UMD finishes the season 11-1.