Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Bethel University came up short for the second straight year to Central College losing this time 29-21. Last year the Royals fell in OT 21-20 on a failed extra point. Bethel dominated statistically but ran out of time only a yard away from what could have been the game tying touchdown.
The Royals put up 539 yards of total offense compared to Centrals 239, with 334 of that coming on the ground.
Phil Porta showed once again why he was selected pre-season all-american, as he carried the ball 35 times for 225 yards and two TD\'s.
Ben Wetzell continued to show growth in his young career as he finished 20-38 passing for 205 yards and an interception. Wetzell found target
John Croyle, who came up with some spectacular grabs, eight times for 120 yards.
Central got on the board first as Tim Connell was 3-3 passing on the opening drive for 52 yards including a nine yard TD strike to Brad Ryals to take the early 7-0 lead. Bethel answered midway through the first on a 10-yard
Phil Porta run that capped an 11-play 58-yard drive.
The Royals then took the lead for the first time in the game, driving 91-yards on 10 plays that included a 20-yard run by Porta that set up a 1-yard TD run by
Steve Moline. On the conversion
Jared Bangs got into the endzone to make the score 14-7. The lead would not last long for Bethel, when on their next possession Bangs fumbled the ball on the Royals 18-yard line, giving the Dutch great field position. Central took seven plays and scored on a 4th and goal to knot the game up at 14. The Royals would not be done as they marched the ball 83-yards in nine plays to retake the lead on a 18-yard run by Porta. Late in the second Central got two back as Bethel miscued a punt attempt snapping the ball over the punters head and through the back of the endzone for a safety.
Heading into the third, Central trailed Bethel 21-16 and the score would remain that way until the 4th quarter when an errant
Ben Wetzell pass was intercepted by Brett Doud who took it 25 yards for the score and what would be the game winning touchdown. The Dutch failed the two point conversion making the score 22-21.
On the next possession the Royals looked to be heading towards another score, traveling 50 yards on nine plays but were stopped short on a fourth and one at the Dutch 30 yard line. Bethel's defense did it's part holding Central to a three and out giving the Royals another shot. On the ensuing punt, return man
Jamie Wagner was unable to field the ball cleanly as Central recovered on the Bethel five yard line. The Royals in a strategic move let the Dutch score on their second play allowing them to get the ball back with a chance to tie it. The Dutch conversion was good making it a 29-21 game with 1:48 remaining.
In heartbreaking fashion, the Royals were able to take the ball 72-yards down the field to the Central one, but the clock ran out before they were to able to get the snap off for what could have been the game tying touchdown.
Bethel falls to 1-1 on the year and will begin conference play next weekend when they travel to Northfield to take on St. Olaf.
