Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn.- Bethel University gained 441 yards of total offense including 380 yards on the ground to take a 35-29 win over St. Olaf in a critical MIAC match-up. The Oles came in with the #10 ranked offense in the nation and were able to put up 280 yards through the air but the #6 ranked Bethel defense stopped the rushing attack and came up with big plays in key situations.
St. Olaf started things off with a 2-yard Bobby Andrade touchdown run on the opening drive in which they converted three third downs and one fourth down to take an early 6-0 lead.
Not to be outdone, the Bethel offense marched 73-yards on seven plays capped off with a 1-yard Ben Wetzell touchdown run to give the Royals a 7-6 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Bethel caught the Oles off-guard with an onside kick which they recovered at the Ole 40-yard line. Seven plays later, freshman running back Dusty Wahl plunged in for the score and a 14-6 Bethel lead.
St. Olaf would respond, however, as quarterback Matt Penz connected on pass plays of 24-yards and 20-yards to set up an Evan Endsley 2-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-12 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
On the Royals opening second quarter drive, the combination of Ben Wetzell and Phil Porta moved the ball 74-yards and ended in Wetzell's second rushing score of the day giving Bethel a two-possession lead.
With 3:50 remaining in the first half and good starting field position, the Oles once again relied on the arm of Matt Penz who connected with Evan Endsley for a 6-yard touchdown to bring the score to 21-19 at the half.
After holding Bethel to three and out to start the second half, St. Olaf quarterback Matt Penz struck again on a 39-yard scoring toss to Andrew Schmiesing giving the Oles the 26-21 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Bethel continued the dual attack of Porta and Wetzell moving 80-yards on seven plays resulting in a 34-yard touchdown run by Wetzell, his third of the day. With a Wetzell-to-Wahl two-point conversion, the Royals took a 29-26 lead.
Midway through the fourth, the Oles recovered a Porta fumble on the Bethel 20-yard line and six plays later knotted the score at 29 with a 30-yard Paul Fortman field goal.
Under six minutes remaining, Phil Porta bounced back and carried the Royals down the field scoring the game winning touchdown on a 13-yard run. Porta finished the drive rushing for 48 yards and in the process broke the All-Time MIAC rushing record previously held by St. Thomas alum Jake Barkley. The Oles had one more chance, but the Bethel defense tightened and intercepted Penz on fourth down to seal the victory.
Bethel was led by the Porta/Wetzell tandem throughout the afternoon as the duo accounted for 438 of the 441 total yards of offense. Wetzell rushed 22 times for 141 yards and three scores while also completing 7-11 passes for 61 yards and one interception. Entering the day, Porta needed 210 yards to break the MIAC record, as he finished with 236 yards and one touchdown. He also caught three passes for 35 yards. Porta now has 3,979 rushing yards in MIAC competition.
Defensively, Bethel's Brandon Carr made a team-high 12 tackles while also breaking up one pass. Kirby Carr and Nate Voronyak also had good days finishing with seven tackles each. Junior defensive back Ryan Herm had an outstanding game finishing with six tackles, four pass break-ups and the game solidifying interception.
For the Oles, quarterback Matt Penz continued his strong year, completing 23 of 46 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Andrew Schmiesing led all receivers with seven catches for 164 yards and one score.
Nick Rydberg led the St. Olaf defense, finishing with 15 tackles including one for a loss. Charlie Mylrea and Peter St. Lawrence also had good performances with eight and nine tackles, respectively as St. Lawrence also forced a fumble and had an interception.
Bethel improves to 6-1 overall, 4-1 in the MIAC and will travel to Hamline next weekend. The Oles fall to 6-2 overall, 4-2 in the league and return home for the battle of Northfield with Carleton College.
