Box Score
ST. PAUL, Minn.- Penalties will kill. Fortunately for the Bethel Royals, they were the benefactors of three St. Thomas penalties during key moments of the game. Bethel capitalized on all three and came from behind to win, 19-18, on a rainy and windy day at St. Thomas.
The first timely penalty came in the 1st quarter after Bethel marched down the field and fullback Dusty Wahl (So., Mahtomedi, MN) rumbled into the end zone from 2 yards out, putting the Royals up 6-0. Bethel missed the point after attempt, but an encroachment penalty on St. Thomas gave the Royals another chance. Kicker Kris Pulford (Sr., Richfield, MN) nailed the second attempt, giving Bethel a 7-0 lead. This proved to be the difference in the game as both the Royals and Tommies were unable to convert on any ensuing point after attempts.
Bethel trailed for most of the game, as St. Thomas went on to score the next three touchdowns. The Tommies got on the board early in the second quarter when a high snap to punter Kevin Ness (So., Dassel, MN) went over his head on 4th down. Ness gave chase and then kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone, resulting in an illegal touch penalty. The penalty gave St. Thomas the ball at the spot of the foul, which was the Bethel 3-yard line. St. Thomas running back Jake Casey ran the ball into the end zone on the first play, making the score 7-6.
St. Thomas struck again after converting on a crucial 4th down and 5. Bethel's defense was able to flush quarterback David Sauer out of the pocket, but Tommie tight end Devan Futterer made a 9-yard reception, keeping the Tommie drive alive. Six plays later, P.J. Theisen caught at 6-yard pass from Sauer for a touchdown, putting the Tommies up 12-7 at the half.
The Royals controlled the ball for much of the 3rd quarter, but were unable to produce any points. Bethel pounded the ball on the ground on the opening drive of the quarter, but could not convert on 4th down deep in Tommie territory, thus turning the ball over.
The two teams traded the ball again, and on their second possession of the quarter, the Tommies got a big play when wide receiver Tony Margarit caught a 41-yard pass, putting St. Thomas at the Bethel 1-yard line. Casey ran in for his second touchdown of the day two plays later, making the score 18-7.
Starting from their own 29-yard line and with the wind at their backs, the Royals needed less than three minutes to make it a one touchdown game. Quarterback Ben Wetzell (Sr., Wells, MN) went 5-for-5 passing on the drive, capping it off with a clutch 1-yard touchdown throw to tight end Alex King (Jr., Wayzata, MN) on 4th and goal, narrowing the score to 18-13.
Bethel's defense stepped up to the Tommies on their next drive as Kurt Erickson (So., Fairmont, MN), came up with a huge sack on 3rd down and 5, throwing Sauer for a loss of 10 yards, forcing them to punt.
On the Royals ensuing drive, penalties came back to haunt St. Thomas once again. A pass interference call on 3rd down and 10, coupled with defensive holding, allowed Bethel to keep the ball, setting up an 18-yard touchdown run by Logan Flannery to put Bethel up 19-18 with 5:20 remaining.
The Tommies came charging back and drove the ball into Bethel territory, but Sauer fumbled when attempting to stretch his run out for extra yardage. Cornerback Ryan Herm (Sr., Foley, MN), who had previously intercepted a Sauer pass in the 1st quarter, recovered the fumble, giving the Royals the ball on their own 29-yard line. Bethel drove the ball and wound the clock down to less than a minute before punting. St. Thomas got the ball as far as their own 35-yard line, but turned the ball back over to Bethel on downs, thus sealing the victory for the Royals.
Bethel improves to 3-0 in conference, and 4-1 overall with the win, while St. Thomas drops to 0-4. The Royals will be at home for their next game when they take on Gustavus Adolphus at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6. St. Thomas will travel down to Northfield to take on Carleton for their next game.
