COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The No. 9th-ranked Bethel University football team couldn't overcome early turnovers falling 28-10 to No. 5 Saint John's in the MIAC Championship game.
The Johnnies narrowly outgained Bethel (8-2, 7-1 MIAC) in the total offense department 397-347. BU had a hard time getting its ground game going being limited to 49 yards, but did hold the Johnnies to 74 rushing yards. The difference was in the air where BU threw five interceptions and were 26-of-53 for 298 yards. SJU (9-1, 7-1 MIAC) was 30-of-43 with one interception and 323 yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• Both teams scored on their opening drives with the Johnnies striking first on a six-play, 71-yard strut down the field. BU answered with a 10-play, 58-yard drive that resulted in a 29-yard field goal off the foot of
Hugo Cifuentes.
• BU's defense forced back-to-back punts of SJU with a punt of its own in between
• The Royals took the lead a minute into the second as a dart from
Jaran Roste to
Micah Niewald was caught at the 35-yard line before a spin move by Niewald got him into the open field and into the end zone for a 68-yard touchdown reception.
• The lead went back to the Johnnies two minutes later only needing five plays to march 76 yards.
• More damage was done as the Johnnies returned a 61-yard pick-six with 3:33 remaining. Roste was hurt on the play and did not return the rest of the game.
• A combined four-interception second quarter ended with
George Bolt throwing one near the end zone with 13 seconds left and sending SJU into the break up 21-10.
2nd Half
• Bethel started the second half with an 11-play drive that ended in a turnover on downs as Bolt's pass to Niewald was short of the line to gain.
• SJU had it first and goal from the one midway through the third with Bethel holding the line and getting two stops, but the Johnnies eventually made it 28-10 with a two-yard pass into the end zone capping out a near seven-minute drive.
• The offense could not get into a rhythm with BU not entering the red zone the rest of the way. The closest they would get is the SJU 30-yard line late in the fourth before an INT by Bolt ended the drive.
• Both defenses kept each other off the scoreboard in the four quarter.
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
•
Micah Niewald – 9 catches for 130 yards, 1 TD
Defense
•
Nate Farm – 12 tackles
•
Matthew Feldick – 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB hurry
•
Jacob Holmen – 4 tackles, .5 tackle for loss, 1 INT
GAME NOTES
• Bethel won the toss for the second straight week and deferred its choice to the second half. BU is now 3-2 in games where they win the toss.
•
Jacob Holmen's interception was the third of his career and second of the season.
•
Micah Niewald recorded his fourth 100-plus reception yard game of the year and five of his career.
UP NEXT
The Royals await to see if they will be one of five teams to receive an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Football Championships. The selection show is set to air at 4 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
