Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - After a heartbreaking loss to Gustavus at home last weekend, the Bethel Royals looked to rebound this week when they faced the St. Thomas Tommies on the road. The Royals had not lost to the Tommies since 2004, but they were defeated today by a score of 36-20.

Bethel got on the scoreboard first when Tim Cornish (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) returned a David Sauer pass 76 yards for a touchdown on the Tommies' first drive. Later in the first quarter, Bethel got great field position as a result of a strong defensive stand that pushed St. Thomas back to its own 11 yard line, followed by a short punt. Josh Aakre (Fr., Dawson, Minn.) led the offense 33 yards in five plays and capped it off with a three-yard touchdown run to put Bethel up 13-0.

But St. Thomas came charging back in the second quarter and scored 17 unanswered points, including a touchdown just before the end of the half to take the lead.

The Royals received the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 65 yards in 13 plays to score a touchdown and regain the lead. Aakre found wide receiver Aaron Bernstetter (Sr., Holdingford, Minn.) for an 18-yard touchdown strike to make the score 20-17. Unfortunately for Bethel, that's all the points they would get on the afternoon.

If there has been a bane of the Royals this season, it has been turnovers. The Tommies scored their last two touchdowns off of third quarter turnovers to seal the victory.

Offensively, Logan Flannery (So., Lakeville, Minn.) rushed the ball 20 times for 95 yards, including a 40-yard gain in the first quarter. Aakre was 5-for-15 passing for 39 yards - all of them to Bernstetter.

On defense, MIAC sack leader Aaron Mills (Sr., Traverse City, Mich.) added to his lead with a nine-yard sack, while Trent Pearson (So., Shakopee, Minn.) had Bethel's other sack. Pearson led the team in tackles with nine, including two for a loss. He also had one of Bethel's two interceptions with Cornish grabbing the other.

With the loss, Bethel falls to 3-4 in the MIAC and 4-5 overall. St. Thomas improves to 5-3 in the conference and 6-3 overall. The Royals are scheduled to finish their season with a game against Augsburg at the Metrodome this coming Thursday at 7 p.m. Check the website for forthcoming infomation about parking and advance ticket sales.