Box Score
Courtesy of Buena Vista Sports Information Department
STORM LAKE, Iowa- After a defensive battle in the first half, the Buena Vista football team took control in the fourth quarter, and held off a late Bethel rally, knocking off the Royals 21-16. The game was the season opener for both teams.
Both offenses struggled at the outset with BVU turning the ball over three times in the game's first 18 minutes (two fumbles and one interception). The Royals couldn't take advantage of several key opportunities as they failed on 29-yard field goal attempt in the opening quarter, while going 0-for-3 on fourth down conversions in the half.
The Beavers got on the scoreboard first late in the first half when quarterback Chris Hawkins connected with Dustin Shulz on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 0:19 remaining; capping off a seven-play 55-yard scoring drive that took only 46 seconds.
Bethel made the score 7-3 mid-way through the third quarter when Nate Gutshall connected on 27-yard field goal attempt; capping off a 57-yard drive that took nearly 4:30 off of the clock.
The Beavers looked poised to put more points on the board on their ensuing possession when Hawkins and Devon Stewart connected for a 33-yard completion down to the Royals' nine yard line. Two plays later, however, Hawkins had his pass attempt picked-off in the end zone for a touchback.
After getting the ball at their own 20 yard line, Bethel once again failed on a fourth-down attempt from its own 39-yard line - giving the Beavers the ball back with just over one minute left in the quarter. BVU took control and marched down the field before Michael Sly rushed in from a yard out. Jamie Daum added the PAT to make it 14-3, BVU.
Bethel began its ensuing drive at its own 49 yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Ben Wetzell had his pass attempt intercepted by Sly, who ran it down the near side line 48 yards for his second touchdown of the afternoon. With Daum's PAT, the Beavers led 21-3 with 13:05 left in regulation.
Bethel wouldn't go away quietly, however, as the team scampered 53 yards in just 2:23 to pull to within 21-10. The Beavers then went three-and-out on the following possession, giving Bethel great field possession at its own 48 yard line. The Royals, however, failed yet again on fourth down near midfield, giving BVU the ball back at its own 45-yard line. The Beavers, however, went three-and-out once again, but Sly's punt attempt pinned Bethel back deep in its own territory.
The Royals put together a nice, quick drive that covered 83 yards in just 1:51, and was capped off by a Wetzell touchdown pass to Aaron Bernstett. Bethel elected to go for the two-point conversion and pull to within a field goal, but Wetzell's pass attempt fell incomplete.
Following a pair of BVU three-and-outs, the Royals still had two more opportunities, but the Beaver defense came up strong late in the game and held Bethel for the seventh time on fourth down in the contest. Time ran out for Bethel on its final possession of the game.
Despite finishing with 374 yards of total offense, including 235 through the air, Bethel went 0-for-7 on fourth down opportunities and failed to take advantage of four Beaver turnovers.
Wetzell completed 22-of-47 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown, while Jared Bangs led the team on the ground with 70 yards on 20 carries. Bernstett led the receiving corps with 71 yards on eight catches, including a touchdown.
Hawkins led BVU through the air by completing 18-of-38 passes for 193 yards and one score, as freshman Cory Donscheski chalked up 38 yards on 13 carries to lead the Beaver ground-game. Stewart hauled in five catches for a team-high 70 yards. For the game, BVU finished with 253 total yards, including 21 first downs.
Lucas Blodgett led the charge defensively for Bethel, recording 5.5 total tackles as Darin Schwarze added five.
Sly turned in a stellar performance defensively for BVU, registering 12.5 tackles, including nine solo and 2.5 for a loss. The senior also turned in a solid performance on special teams, averaging 37.9 yards on nine punts, including a long of 46 yards.
BVU, which knocked off Bethel for the first time in school history, wins its season opener for the first time since knocking off Gustavus Adolphus in 2003.
Bethel was ranked 24th in the D3football.com Preseason Poll.
The Beavers are off next week and return to competition when they open Iowa Conference play on the road on September 15th with a 1:00 p.m., contest at Wartburg College.
