| Concordia-Moorhead players
are well onto the field before their eligible teammate controls the
fumble that could have been the end of the game. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com More photos from this game. |
An unbelievable finish at Royal Stadium allowed the Bethel University Royals, who celebrated its homecoming game Saturday, to come back from a 14-7 deficit with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter to defeat Concordia-Moorhead 15-14 in a MIAC classic.
Trailing by seven, Bethel drove 71 yards down the field to
score the game winning touchdown – but it didn't come without
drama.
Facing a third-and-10 from the Cobber 17-yard-line with 0:01
on the clock quarterback Erik
Peterson (So., Orono, Minn.) was stripped,
which induced a parade of Concordia personnel onto the field.
However, no one had gained possession and by the time a Cobber
picked up the ball and ran 71 yards for a CC score penalty flags
littered the field. The Cobbers had been penalized for
unsportsmanlike conduct – thier only penalty of the game
– for coming onto the field while no one had possession,
which gave the Royals one more opportunity to score from the 9-yard
line.
With one final play Peterson found Jay
Hilbrands (Sr., Clara City, Minn.) on the far
corner of the end zone for the score. Instead of kicking the extra
point, Bethel decided to attempt a two-point conversion, which was
successful via a toss from Peterson to Mitch
Hallstrom (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.), ending
the game victoriously for the Royals.
Bethel fans embedded within the crowd of 5,124 people
stormed the field after witnessing one of the most bizarre endings
to a game in Royal Stadium history.
The Cobbers never trailed until the final play of the game,
as Concordia ended the first half with a Brent Baune rushing
touchdown in a fourth-and-goal situation from the
1-yard-line.
The Royals responded with an 11-play, 50-yard drive lasting
5:35 near the end of the third quarter, which
featured Jesse
Phenow (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) – who
played in his first game since spraining his knee on the first
series of the Wartburg contest – rushing the ball from 1 yard
out. A Nathaniel Van
Loon point after attempt made the score
7-7.
Concorda gave themselves a seven-point spread with a 40-yard
reception between quarterback Griffin Neal and wide out Chris
Gilson with 9:01 on the clock.
Behind 14-7 Bethel was unable to score on the ensuing
possession, however, BU forced the Cobbers to punt, which handed
the rock back to the Royals with 1:24 on the clock.
Several extraordinary plays took place on the game-winning
drive, including a one-handed grab by Mitch
Hallstrom for 30 yards and a 14-yard pass and
catch between Hans
Duininck (Sr. Tulsa, Okla.) and Peterson on
fourth-and-12.
Statistics between each team were nearly identical. BU
managed 91 yards rushing on 39 attempts, averaging 2.3 yards per
carry, while Erik
Peterson and the aerial attack threw for 177
yards on 16-of-30 attempts. Jesse
Phenow led Bethel with 89 yards rushing on 22
attempts, to go along with his third quarter
score. Jay
Hilbrands was Peterson's hottest target
Saturday, catching eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Hallstrom and Jared
Schultz each caught two passes for 41 and 25
yards, respectively.
For the Cobbers, Brett Baune's 50 yards and touchdown helped
CC finish the day with 103 rushing yards and a score. This
demonstrated the strength of the defense, as Concordia averaged 327
yards rushing coming into the MIAC battle. The Cobbers threw for
173 yards on 14-of-19 attempts. Concordia attained an 8-yard
advantage in total offensive yards (276-268) and total possession
was decided by just over a minute.
The Royals play its next competition on the road next
Saturday, traveling to St. Paul to face the University of St.
Thomas. The 1:10 p.m. battle will be the fourth straight game
against an unbeaten opponent and will be the third consecutive game
to hold sizeable MIAC title implications.