MOREHEAD, Minn. – In Saturday's premier MIAC matchup Bethel University topped Concordia College 27-13 ending the Cobber's four-game winning streak, and keeping the Royals in contention for the NCAA DIII playoffs.

Concordia, who averages over 32 points per contest, owned a 13-6 lead with just under 15 minutes to play in the second quarter, yet the BU defense locked-in from there, surrendering zero points through the remaining 44 minutes. Bethel scored less than a minute after Concordia's final touchdown and again with 1:56 to play in the second period, making the score 20-13 at the half.

The Royals ability to create turnovers tag-teamed with aggressive running on offense enabled them to score once more in the second period, finalizing the 27-13 victory over Concordia.   BU won the turnover battle throughout the afternoon matinee, as Bethel turned the ball over zero times opposed to the Cobber's three. Prior to today's game Concordia lead the league in forced turnovers.

Bethel found themselves down 7-0 nine minutes into the first quarter as Concordia quarterback Michael Dunham traced a 29-yard pass to Matt Peterson.  The Royals got on the board six minutes later when senior quarterback Josh Aakre (Sr., Dawson, Minn.) found Jared Shultz (So., Fergus Falls, Minn.) for a 19-yard touchdown.  The extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the score at 7-6.

The Cobbers responded quickly, as Matt Peterson found running room in the open field early in the second quarter. Peterson dashed for a 58-yard touchdown, increasing the Concordia-Moorhead lead to 13-6. The Cobbers failed to complete the extra point, keeping the score within seven points. Aakre recorded his second throwing touchdown of the day 53-seconds later, when he hit Reese Walker (Jr., Independence, Minn.) for a 66-yard touchdown completion. The catch was Walker's second receiving touchdown over 30-yards in as many weeks.

With the score knotted at 13 Bethel composed a five-play, 75-yard scoring drive with less than two minutes to play in the second quarter when Aakre recorded his third touchdown, on a 12-yard scamper. After a Matt Wetherell (Sr., Glen Ellyn, Ill.) extra point BU led 20-13. The Royals maintained the lead going into the half.

Both defenses exhibited exceptional play in the second half, as neither team scored until late in the fourth quarter.  However, with less than five minutes to play in the game the Cobbers were driving in Bethel territory down 20-13.  Concordia attempted to convert a big fourth down from the BU 43-yard line, but were stopped by Luke Buttenhoff (So., Watertown, Minn.), who recorded a huge sack , giving the ball back to the Royals. 

Feeding off the defensive sack, the Royals comprised a six-play, 46-yard scoring drive in which Josh Aakre rumbled in from seven yards out to give BU the 27-13 advantage, in which they would hold onto the remainder of the game.

Bethel racked up 447 yards of total offense, thanks in part to Josh Aakre and Jesse Phenow. Along with Aakre's four touchdowns, Jesse Phenow (So., Richfield, Minn.) recorded a remarkable day on the ground. Phenow's 163 yards rushing on 24 carries enabled him to be a part of eight first downs in the fourth quarter, which helped keep the Cobber's offense off the field. Phenow averaged 6.7 yards per carry, alongside Kelson Carr (Sr., North Bend, Wash.) and Brandon Marquardt (Fr., Champlin, Minn.) who each averaged 5.9 and 4.7 yards per carry, respectively.

Josh Aakre tallied ten rushes himself gaining 35 yards on the ground to go along with the 192 yards he delivered through the air. Aakre completed seven of 17 passes, including the 66-yard delivery to Walker. Phenow, Marquardt, Walker, and Jay Hilbrands (Jr., Clara City, Minn.) were all part of Aakre's receiving corps.

After the initial two scores, the fifteenth ranked defense held Concordia to zero points and forced three turnovers. Bethel recorded three sacks for a total loss of 28 yards and added three additional tackles for a loss. Inside linebacker Billy Morgan (Sr., Rosemount, Minn.) led all defenders with 12 total tackles and a fumble recovery. Seth Mathis (So., Anoka, Minn.) put on a show defensively as well, racking up seven tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups. Brett Skoog (Jr., Long Lake, Minn.) added to the BU linebacker dominance, recording 4 tackles, two of them for loss, one sack, and an interception in the fourth quarter.

Bethel University moves to 6-2 (4-2 MIAC) with the win and hands Concordia College its first loss in the last five games, dropping the Cobbers to 6-3 (4-3 MIAC).  The Royals will host Hamline 0-8 (0-6 MIAC) next week in its final regular season home game.