BOX SCORE
GAME PHOTOS

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Bethel Royals have defeated the St. Thomas Tommies 12-7 in the NCAA DIII quarter-finals. The win gives the Royals their second West Region championship in the past 4 years. With less than 24 hours to go till game time the weather looked provide the biggest challenge of the day. Fans lucked out though as snow tapered off by morning and the St. Thomas grounds crew was able to move about 8 inches of snow from the field and stands before the 12 noon start.

The Tommies got things going early in their first possession of the game, when Collin Tobin broke away from the Bethel defense for a big 46 yard run. Tobin would finish the drive off rushing the ball in for a touchdown from 2 yards out. The drive only took 2:01 off the clock and left the Royals looking at a 7-0 deficit before even touching the ball.

After the first scoring drive by St. Thomas neither team saw much production in the remainder of the first quarter. The Royals went 3 and out twice and also lost the ball to an interception, while the Tommies also went 3 and out twice and then turned the ball over on downs. Having given up the touchdown early the Royals defense turned up the heat on the Tommies offense not allowing them to find their rhythm or the end zone.

The Royals started the second quarter with the ball after the Tommies gave it up on downs. The Royals were forced to another 3 and out on their first possession of the quarter, but when the got the ball back for their second possession of the quarter they were ready to make something happen. The second drive of the second quarter started with the Royals on their own 12 yard line. Bethel continued to hammer away at the Tommies taking the ball 88 yards on 9 plays to the other end of the field to score a touchdown off a 1 yard rush by Logan Flannery (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.). The Royals went for the 2-point conversion, but junior quarterback Josh Aakre (Dawson, Minn.) had his pass denied, leaving the score at 7-6 in favor of the Tommies. The majority of the yardage on the drive came from Flannery, and Kevin Lindh (So., Houston, Minn.). Flannery's biggest run on the drive racked up 16 yards, while Lindh broke one lose for a gain of 25.

The Royals would continue to hold the Tommie offense in check in the third quarter, preventing them from putting any points on the board. Bethel found the end zone for a second time on a 1 yard quarterback sneak. Aakre's touchdown gave the Royals the lead 12-7. The Royals went for the 2-point conversion again only to have the attempt intercepted in the end zone by the Tommies Bryan Villar.

In the fourth quarter neither team would score, though the Royals did attempt a field goal with 6:14 to go. The field goal attempt was only the second career try for Nick Love (So., Elmhurst, Ill.). Love's kick narrowly missed wide left, leaving the score 12-7.

With just over 6 minutes left to play in the 4th quarter the Tommies got the ball back. They needed a touchdown to tie, and a successful point after attempt to win. The Tommies drove the ball 8 plays for 15 yards before Colin Tobin threw an interception to David Vavra (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.). The Bethel offense would then hold onto the ball for 9 plays and 20 yards to seal the victory and break the Tommies streak of 2 years at home without a loss.

Totals on the day, Logan Flannery ran for 200 yards to break the Bethel and MIAC career rushing record. Flannery's 200 yards bring his career mark to 5,253 yards, passing Phil Porta's previous record by 18 yards. Kevin Lindh ran for 62 yards on 9 attempts. Josh Aakre and Jesse Phenow (Fr., Richfield, Minn.) also contributed to the run game. Aakre threw 2-4 on the day for 18 yards. While the Royals did not use the passing game much Aakre's presence and command in the pocket still caused the St. Thomas defense to respect his ability to throw if they were to leave a man open.

The Tommies offense racked up 220 yards of total offense to the Royals 305. The Tommies were lead on the ground by Colin Tobin who ran for 122 yards on the day. Quarterback Dakota Tracy also ran for 44 yards while throwing for 54.

The Royals will now travel to Mt. Union next Saturday to take on the Purple Raiders. The two teams faced each other in the semi-finals of the playoffs in 2007.

Links to media coverage:
KSTP: Story, Video
KARE11
WCCO
Startribune: Post Game Story, Interview with Logan Flannery
D3football.com
1500ESPN