WCAC Football Championship Game

St. John’s Wins First WCAC Crown Since 1989

St. John’s Wins First WCAC Crown Since 1989

St. John's defeated Gonzaga to win its first conference championship since 1989.

Nov 18, 2017 by Kolby Paxton
St. John’s Wins First WCAC Crown Since 1989

For the first time since 1989, St. John’s is the champion of the WCAC.

The Cadets turned the league championship game into Groundhog Day for Gonzaga, rallying from a first half deficit to hammer the Eagles, 30-7, and complete their first undefeated WCAC season in nearly three decades.

The 95th meeting between the two teams looked a lot like their 94th meeting just two weeks ago, as Gonzaga controlled the game early and led for much of the first half — only for St. John’s to dominate the final 24 minutes.

After Rafi Checa put the Cadets on top with a 38-yard field goal, the Eagles returned fire with a Caleb Williams 1-yard touchdown run to move ahead 7-3.

With under a minute to go, St. John’s quarterback Kevin Doyle found Quinten Johnson on the other end of a 16-yard touchdown pass to give the Cadets a 10-7 lead at the break. Unfortunately for Gonzaga, things would only get worse.

Antwain Littleton powered in from four yards out early in the third quarter to push the Cadets’ advantage to 17-7, which was more than enough for a St. John’s defense was suffocating Gonzaga. Williams could get nothing done through the air — nor could any of the Eagles’ backs find consistent running room on the ground.

Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Johnson found the end zone again for St. John’s — this time on a two-yard run.

Checa added his second and third field goals from there, to set the final margin.