Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Bethel's bid to upset the #10 St. Thomas Tommies fell short today as the Royals were defeated 19-10 at home.

St. Thomas went ahead 6-0 early in the game after recovering a fumble inside Bethel territory. The Tommies covered 33 yards in seven plays and scored a touchdown on an eight-yard pass.

The Royals got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter after a 10-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in a Matt Wetherell (So., Glen Ellyn, Ill.) field goal to cut Bethel's deficit in half. Unfortunately, the Tommies answered with a a 12-play, 63-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown to make the score 13-3.

Bethel got its first and only touchdown of the game late in the second quarter when Joel Quick (Sr., Johnston, Iowa) was on the receiving end of a 24-yard touchdown pass from Josh Aakre (So., Dawson, Minn.). Aakre made his first start for the Royals since leaving the St. Olaf game with an injury on Oct. 10. He was 11-for-18 passing for 117 yards. Aakre also ran the ball 10 times for 49 yards.

In the second half, St. Thomas added an insurance touchdown on a five-yard pass with about two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Royals were able to pin the Tommies deep in their own territory midway through the fourth quarter after a 69-yard punt by Kevin Ness (Sr., Dassel, Minn.), forcing a punt that only made it out to the St. Thomas 36-yard line. Unfortunately, the Royals were only able to push the ball 11 yards before a poor snap led to an unsuccessful ball placement on a field goal attempt, thus turning the ball over on downs.

Statistically, the two teams played a relatively even game, save for total first downs and time of possession. St. Thomas gained 18 first downs to Bethel's 10, but only outgained the Royals by 49 yards of total offense. Logan Flannery (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) was held to just 60 yards on 16 carries, while Quick, last week's MIAC Offensive Player of the Week managed 76 yards on six catches, including his touchdown.

On defense, the Royals were led by a former Tommie. Ross Petterson (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) got limited playing time in a St. Thomas uniform his first two years, but has been a big asset to the Bethel defense as he recorded 14 tackles and an interception against his former team. Petterson leads the Royals on the season with 67 tackles. Other defensive highlights include a blocked extra point by Nathan Voronyak (Sr., Orono, Minn.) and a blocked field goal late in the second quarter.

The Royals fall to 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC this season, while St. Thomas improves to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference. Bethel is scheduled to play its last regular season home game next Saturday against Augsburg, beginning at 1 p.m.