Tommie-Johnnie rivalry history

Editor’s Note: Throughout the week, TommieMedia will be featuring stories on the upcoming Tommie-Johnnie game. Make sure to check out the Tommie-Johnnie coverage page for daily updates.

Senior wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel makes a catch against the Johnnies last year. (John Kruger/TommieMedia)
Senior wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel makes a catch against the Johnnies last year. (John Kruger/TommieMedia)

The Tommie-Johnnie football battle returns to St. Thomas after back-to-back games in Collegeville in 2009 and 2010.

This year’s game marks the 80th meeting between the schools. The rivalry has lasted for 110 years, beginning Thanksgiving Day, 1901. This is the 60th season in a row the teams will play against each other.

St. Thomas’ overtime win last year in Collegeville, 27-26, ended a 12-year losing streak for the Tommies, but St. Thomas has lost the last seven home games in the series. The Tommie’s last on-campus win over the Johnnies came in 1992. The Johnnies lead the all-time series, 49-29-1.

Since 1980, seven of the 14 games played in St. Paul have been decided by seven points or less. In the last three meetings, the game was not decided until the final play.

In 2008, the Tommies lost a fumble on the Johnnies one-yard-line with 40 seconds left and were defeated, 12-9. The Johnnies won the 2009 game in Collegeville in overtime, 20-17. St. Thomas won in overtime in 2010.

Senior quarterback Dakota Tracy ran for 99 yards and passed for 114 in last year’s victory.

No. 3-ranked St. Thomas (4-0 overall, 2-0 MIAC) faces St. John’s (2-2, 1-1) Saturday, Oct. 1, at home. Game time is 1:10 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

Here is a list of the outcomes since 2001:

2010: St. Thomas – 27, St. John’s – 26

2009: St. John’s – 20, St. Thomas – 17

2008: St. John’s – 12, St. Thomas – 9

2007: St. John’s – 51, St. Thomas – 34

2006: St. John’s – 27, St. Thomas – 7

2005: St. John’s – 48, St. Thomas – 14

2004: St. John’s – 21, St. Thomas – 0

2003: St. John’s – 15, St. Thomas – 12

2002: St. John’s – 48, St. Thomas – 28

2001: St. John’s – 27, St. Thomas – 21

St. Thomas Sports Information Director Gene McGivern contributed statistics to this story.