BELTON, Texas – The No. 13th ranked Bethel University football team saw its season come to an end falling to defending national champions and No. 3 Mary-Hardin Baylor 41-28 in the NCAA quarterfinals. The Royals captured their third 10-win season over the last nine years finishing 10-3. UMBH moves to the semifinals where they take on North Central in a rematch of last year's Stagg Bowl.
BU held a 28-17 early in the fourth following
Joey Kidder's second touchdown grab of the game. Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-1) took over from there with explosive plays putting up the game's final 24 points, all in the fourth quarter.
The Royals were narrowly outgained by UMHB 449-414. Bethel threw for 273 yards compared to the 276 by the opposition. On the ground, they rushed for 141 yards on 32 carries while the Crusaders went 173 yards on 30 carries.
Quarterback
Jaran Roste left his stamp on the program as he finishes his Bethel career as the Royals' all-time leader in passing yards (9,051), TD passes (70), rushing TDs (45), completions (682), passing attempts (1,043) and total offense (11,509 yards). His 2,458 rushing yards sits 10th all-time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• It was an electric start as
Matthew Feldick picked off the UMBH quarterback on the eighth play of the game. The Crusaders responded back with a stop of its own forcing the Royals to go three and out.
• Roste threw his first INT of the game but BU took it right back as
Devin Williams forced a fumble with Feldick recovering it.
• BU put points on the board that drive with three straight rushes from
David Geebli that resulted in a six-yard strut into the endzone.
• With 11:09 left in the second UMHB used a quick four play drive to tie up scoring on the ground from 16 yards out.
• A fourth down conversion by BU set up a fresh set of downs that led to the usual connection of Roste to Kidder for a 24-yard score.
• With just over two minutes to go in the half, the Crusaders evened it up with the ground game, this time from 17 yards out.
• Bethel marched downfield before the 11th play of the drive was picked off inside the 20 to close the half.
2nd Half
• Bethel chewed up the opening 4:33 of the second scoring on its first drive as Roste threw a nice ball to Miach Niewald who outran the secondary for a 25-yard snag at the goal line.
• A pass interference call in the endzone set up the Crusaders first and goal from the three. But the BU defense held strong. They held strong stopping the Crusaders at the one on a second down run. A penalty and an incomplete pass forced UMHB to settle for a 23-yard field goal making it 21-17 with 6:52 to go in the third.
• Kidder opened up the fourth with another highlight reel catch in the end zone. Falling backwards towards the back pylon he snagged Roste's pass from nine yards out.
• A 65-yard TD pass for UMHB changed the momentum even though the two-point try failed to keep it 28-23.
• Two more rushing touchdowns of 12 and 26 yards put it out of reach for the Royals.
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
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Jaran Roste – 27-of-44, 266 passing yards, 3 TDs
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David Geebli – 22 carries for 95 yards
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Joey Kidder – 8 catches for 99 yards, 2 TDs
Defense
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Matthew Feldick – 8 tackles, 6 solo, fumble recovery, INT returned for 15 yards
•
Nate Farm – 8 tackles, 3 solo
GAME NOTES
• Bethel won the toss and deferred its choice to the second half. They finish 5-3 win winning the toss.
• The Royals led the time of possession battle 35:39-24:21 and were 8-2 on the year when leading the TOP department.
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Joey Kidder finishes the year with 13 touchdown catches and now sits third all-time in Bethel history with 23 entering his junior season next year.
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Matthew Feldick finishes with 255 career tackles and is top-five in program history. The senior capped off his career with his eighth interception. His 102 tackles this season is the most by a Royal since 2013.
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Joey Kidder finishes the season with 1,040 reception yards making it the second straight season with 1,000-plus yards.
Micah Niewald had 1,030 yard making himself and Kidder the first receiving duo to have 1,000-plus receiving yards in a season. Only four receivers since 2001 have tallied the 1,000-yard mark.
PRESS CONFERENCE
