Despite totaling more offense and outrushing NCC throughout the
entire contest, Bethel's playoff journey came to a close Saturday
after falling to North Central 41-17. The Royals (12-1, 8-0 MIAC)
manufactured 392 yards of offense, but five turnovers — the
most in a single game throughout 2013 — haunted Bethel and
allowed the Cardinals (13-0, 7-0 CCIW) to advance to the final four
teams of the NCAA Playoffs, where they will play Mount Union next
Saturday.
BU's defeat forces them to exit the NCAA Division III
Championships — a place they have been three of the last four
years. In fact, the Royals' seniors finished their career with a
6-3 postseason record and an overall mark of 41-8 (83.7) to go
along with a MIAC Championship and a NCAA Division III West Region
Championship (2010).
After holding North Central to a three-and-out on their first
drive, the Royals scored a field goal on their first possession.
Bethel nearly scored a touchdown on the drive, but field conditions
tripped up Marshall Klitzke at the 5-yard line—another
component to haunt BU throughout the day. As a result, Andrew
O'Reilly knocked in a 31-yard attempt to give Bethel the early
lead.
The Cardinals came back to score three unanswered touchdowns,
including a score that was set up from a Bethel fumble. That put
the Royals down 21-3 at the midway point, but definitely not out.
Bethel composed an exceptional opening drive in the second half,
but a fumble at the North Central 10-yard line handed the ball back
to the Cardinals and kept the Royals empty handed.
Bethel didn't quit though, as they scored on their next possession
— trimming the gap to 21-10 with 10:50 left in the third
quarter. But perhaps the biggest blow of the game came on the very
next play, when North Central's Jordan Dean ran the ensuing kickoff
back to the BU eight-yard line. That set up an NCC touchdown, which
pushed the Cardinal's lead back to 17.
North Central scored a couple more times before Marshall Klitzke
found the end zone for the Royals on a four-yard scamper that
capped off a 13-play, 61-yard drive.
Klitzke led the Bethel ground game with 93 yards on 15 carries
(6.2 yards per carry) and one touchdown. Senior Jesse Phenow picked
up 90 yards on 11 carries (8.2 yards per carry) and also had a TD.
As a unit, BU churned up 239 yards on the ground on 38 carries.
Tom Keefe led the Royals aerial attack with 153 yards on 17-of-32
passing with two interceptions. Keefe hit Mitch Hallstrom six times
for 64 yards and Jay Hilbrands five times for 45 yards.
Landon Mathis led Bethel's defense with 11 tackles, including six
solo, and one breakup. Landon's brother, Seth, as well as Mehlhorn
brothers, J.D. and Matt, all finished with seven tackles. Landen
Strilzuk also added four tackles, two pass breakups, and one forced
fumble.