UW-River Falls pulled off a stunning victory over Johns Hopkins, winning 48-41 in the NCAA Division III semifinals on Saturday. The game was decided in dramatic fashion when Kaleb Blaha connected with Blake Rohrer for a 79-yard touchdown pass with just 45 seconds left on the clock.
Blaha”s performance was nothing short of remarkable as he completed 30 of 48 passes for a school-record 520 yards and five touchdowns. This last touchdown not only secured the win but also marked his fifth scoring pass of the day.
Entering the fourth quarter, Johns Hopkins trailed 41-34 but quickly tied the game after Ty Pugliano executed a 2-yard touchdown run, capping off a lengthy 13-play, 94-yard drive. Following a defensive stop, however, the Blue Jays turned the ball over on downs during their next possession.
The Blue Jays” defense responded by forcing a turnover on downs, giving them possession near midfield with 3:09 remaining in the game. Unfortunately for them, a quick three-and-out forced them to punt with only 1:42 left on the clock.
On a critical third-and-7 play from their own 21-yard line, Blaha found Rohrer between two defenders, who then sprinted 79 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
After the score, Johns Hopkins regained possession with only 42 seconds left, starting from their own 37-yard line. However, an interception on the first play of the drive sealed their fate, allowing the Falcons to kneel down and secure their victory.
Bay Harvey, the Blue Jays” quarterback, ended the game with a 14-for-31 passing performance for 213 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 86 yards and two scores. Geoff Schroeder contributed significantly with 25 carries for 162 yards and a touchdown, while Cole Crotty led the receiving corps with six catches for 99 yards.
This loss marked the third time Johns Hopkins reached the DIII semifinals, having previously done so in 2018 and 2024, but they have yet to advance to the championship game known as the Stagg Bowl.
UW-River Falls will now face the winner of the North Central (Illinois)-John Carroll matchup for the national title on January 4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. This appearance in the national championship game is a significant achievement for the Falcons, who had endured 19 consecutive losing seasons from 2001 to 2019.
Despite tying a program record with 12 wins this season, Johns Hopkins fell to 18-14 all-time in NCAA playoff history, including a 6-2 record under coach Dan Wodicka. Their journey to Wisconsin was fraught with challenges, including an unscheduled landing in Columbus, Ohio, due to an engine issue during their flight from Baltimore to Minneapolis on Friday.
The team experienced a delay of approximately four and a half hours before boarding a different aircraft to continue their journey. Although they had planned a walkthrough practice in River Falls, Wisconsin, the unexpected flight complications likely impacted their preparation for the critical semifinal matchup.
