November 20, 2010
Royals Down Wartburg, Next Up Wheaton
WAVERLY, IA - The Royals defeated the Wartburg Knights today 28-20. The Knights were unable to stop the Royals Saturday thanks in large part to a one-two punch from senior running back Logan Flannery, and junior quarterback Josh Aakre, who helped the Royals put up over 500 yards of total offense. With the victory Bethel moves on to round two of the NCAA DIII football playoffs. The Royals will be on the road again next Saturday to face number 2 seed Wheaton.
Bethel got things started quickly scoring on the first drive of the game whenLogan Flannery (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) scored on an 11 yard pass from Josh Aakre (Jr., Dawson, Minn.). The Knights then answered scoring on their first possession of the game. With the Royals having gone for 2 on their scoring drive the score stood at 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Wartburg was able to score for a second time before the Royals put 14 more points on the board to set the score at 28-20 in favor of Bethel at the half. Though the Royals offense is centered on their running game, they were able to make several big plays through the air thanks to an outstanding performance by the offensive line. The first touchdown in the second quarter for the Royals came on a 31 yard pass from Aakre to Flannery, then the second came on a 62 yard pass from Aakre to Mitch Hallstrom (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.)
The Knights scored the lone touchdown of the 3rd quarter but missed the extra point to leave the game at 22-20 going into the final 15 minutes. Then with just under 3 minutes off the clock in the fourth, freshman running back Jesse Phenow (Richfield, Minn.) capped off a 6 play, 68 yard drive, with a 1 yard run to score Bethel's final points of the day.
The Royals defense then stalled the Knights to get the ball back in the hands of the Royals offense with 7 minutes left of the clock. Then the Royals sealed their fate picking up several first downs to run out the clock.
David Vavra (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.) lead the Royals defense with 8 tackles. Right behind Vavra, Billy Morgan (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) had 5.5 tackles, while Trent Pearson (Sr., Shakopee, Minn.) had 5. Neither the Royals or the Knights had any interceptions or fumbles in the game.
The Royals move on to round two to face Wheaton. Wheaton faced Coe College in their opening round game defeating the Kohawks 31-21.
Check back during the week for more information on the Royals second round game.
Bethel got things started quickly scoring on the first drive of the game whenLogan Flannery (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) scored on an 11 yard pass from Josh Aakre (Jr., Dawson, Minn.). The Knights then answered scoring on their first possession of the game. With the Royals having gone for 2 on their scoring drive the score stood at 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter Wartburg was able to score for a second time before the Royals put 14 more points on the board to set the score at 28-20 in favor of Bethel at the half. Though the Royals offense is centered on their running game, they were able to make several big plays through the air thanks to an outstanding performance by the offensive line. The first touchdown in the second quarter for the Royals came on a 31 yard pass from Aakre to Flannery, then the second came on a 62 yard pass from Aakre to Mitch Hallstrom (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.)
The Knights scored the lone touchdown of the 3rd quarter but missed the extra point to leave the game at 22-20 going into the final 15 minutes. Then with just under 3 minutes off the clock in the fourth, freshman running back Jesse Phenow (Richfield, Minn.) capped off a 6 play, 68 yard drive, with a 1 yard run to score Bethel's final points of the day.
The Royals defense then stalled the Knights to get the ball back in the hands of the Royals offense with 7 minutes left of the clock. Then the Royals sealed their fate picking up several first downs to run out the clock.
David Vavra (Jr., Cambridge, Minn.) lead the Royals defense with 8 tackles. Right behind Vavra, Billy Morgan (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) had 5.5 tackles, while Trent Pearson (Sr., Shakopee, Minn.) had 5. Neither the Royals or the Knights had any interceptions or fumbles in the game.
The Royals move on to round two to face Wheaton. Wheaton faced Coe College in their opening round game defeating the Kohawks 31-21.
Check back during the week for more information on the Royals second round game.
