ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Host its first playoff game since 2018, the Bethel University football team overcame three fumble losses with a strong defensive effort as the No. 21 Bethel University football team defeated No. 25 Coe in the opening round of the NCAA Championships, 31-26, at Royal Stadium.
 
Bethel's defense tallied a season-high 10 sacks for a total loss of 49 yards. While the secondary didn't pick up an interception for the second straight week, Bu did come up with three fumble recoveries.
 
The Royals outgained Coe 384-276 while rushing for 116 yards and Cooper Drews passing for 384 yards. The Kohawks were limited to 22 rushing yards, 203 yards under their season average, on 35 carries while airing it out for 254 yards.
 
Coe's only lead on the day came early in the first as Bethel muffed a punt and allowed the Kohawks to score seven plays later. Back-to-back rushing touchdowns from Aaron Ellingson, one rushing and one receiving, gave Bethel the lead the rest of the way.
 
Coe got within one twice, 14-13 and 21-20. A three-yard rushing touchdown from Drews and a 27-yard field goal from Cifuentes with 40 seconds left in the third opened up the lead to 31-20.
 
 A Kohawk touchdown with 6:29 left in the game made it 31-26. After the Royals chewed up 4:19 of clock they punted it away and forcing Coe to start at their own three-yard line.
 
Coe got one first down before Kolin Baier had a seven-yard sack for a long second down play. Coe got it to 3rd-and-5 as pressure from Caden DeWall forced and incomplete pass. BU got the stop on fourth down with another incomplete pass and was able to go into victory formation.
 
DeWall had 3.5 sacks on the day moving his season total to a now single-season program record 19.0

TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
• Cooper Drews – 38-of-53, 268 yards, 1 TD
• Micah Niewald – 15 catches for 109 yards
• Joey Kidder – 13 for 109 yards
• Aaron Ellingson – 25 carries for 80 yards, 2 TDs
 
Defense
• Jacob Holmen – 10 tackles, 2 sacks
• Caden DeWall – 9 tackles, 3.5 sacks for loss of 19 yards, 4.5 tackles for loss
• Nae Farm – 9 tackles
 
UP NEXT
The Royals will host second-seeded Lake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Royal Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.


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