Box Score
PELLA, Iowa – A steady, cold rain combined with snow already on the field made for extremely slippery and wet playing conditions when Bethel University took on Central College in their NCAA quarterfinal playoff game. However, the sloppy field conditions could not stop Bethel from defeating Central 27-13 to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Bethel pounded the ball down the field after receiving the opening kickoff and got on the board first with a 3-yard touchdown run by Dusty Wahl (So., Mahtomedi, Minn.). The point after attempt was no good, as a high snap, coupled with a slippery ball forced holder Dan Einerson (Sr., Alexandria, Minn.) to run the ball, but was stopped short.
The Royals defense was able to stop the Dutch and get the ball back. However, Bethel took a chance on fourth down and less than a yard deep in their own territory. Ben Wetzell (Sr., Wells, Minn.) fumbled the snap and was tackled for a loss, forcing the Royals to turn the ball over on downs at their own 26-yard line.
That set up a Vance Shuring pass to Josh Smith for a Dutch touchdown. Central added the extra point to take the lead 7-6 with five minutes left to play in the first quarter.
Bethel returned the ensuing kick off out to their own 49-yard line and drove down the field, but again, a slippery ball led to a fumbled snap at the Central 5-yard line, and the Dutch recovered.
Central was only able to move the ball to their own 16-yard before Bethel's defense forced them to punt. Punter Kurtis Brondyke mishandled the snap and tried running the ball, but Bethel stopped him short to take over on downs. That allowed Wetzell to rush for a touchdown, giving Bethel the lead again at 13-7 with Nate Gutshall's (So., Urbandale, Iowa) extra point.
Bethel then took a 20-7 lead at the half when Kyle Lee (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) caught an 11-yard Wetzell pass for a touchdown. The drive started at the Central 34-yard line when Nate Voronyak (So., Orono, Minn.) intercepted Central quarterback Tim Connell on third down. Wetzell and Jared Bangs (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.) each had key first down rushes to keep the drive alive.
On Bethel's second drive of the third quarter, Wetzell sustained a shoulder injury on a first down run. Einerson took the helm and marched Bethel to Central's 19-yard line before the offense turned the ball over on downs on fourth down and short.
The game turned into a defensive battle as neither team scored until Tim Cornish (So., Plymouth, Minn.) intercepted a Connell pass and ran it back 85-yards for a touchdown to put Bethel up 27-7 with 3:39 remaining.
Central added a final touchdown when Smith scored on a Connell pass late fourth quarter to make the score 27-13, as the point after attempt failed.
Turnovers played an integral part of the game as each team struggled to hang onto a wet and slippery ball. Bethel fumbled the ball six times and lost two while being intercepted once. Central fumbled once, but was intercepted three times.
Bethel will now take on perennial Division III powerhouse Mt. Union in Ohio next Saturday at noon in a semifinal game. Mount Union has won eight of the last 11 Stagg Bowl National Championship games including the last two.
