Late TD Gives Bethel 17-14 Win and MIAC Crown

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Bethel University running back Logan Flannery scored from one yard out with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter to defeat Saint John’s 17-14 Saturday, Nov. 10 in Arden Hills. The win gives the Royals the MIAC championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III playoffs. Postseason selections and brackets will be announced at 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning (Nov. 11) on ESPNU.

SJU took a 7-0 lead on a 7-yard run by senior running back Mike Patnode (Princeton, Minn.) with 14:52 left in the second quarter. The touchdown capped a 13-play, 72-yard drive for the Johnnies. The lead lasted only 15 seconds, however. BU’s Tim Cornish returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

The Johnnies regained the lead on a 46-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Alex Kofoed (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) to senior wide receiver Brian Weber (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) with 6:51 left in the second quarter.

Bethel kicker Nate Gutshall booted a 34-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in the first half to cut the Johnnies’ lead to 14-10 at halftime.
The story of the second half was, like last year’s contest, ball control. SJU had the ball for only 8:06 in the final two quarters and gained only 46 yards on 18 offensive plays.

Kofoed ended the day 14 of 27 passing for 156 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Patnode led the Johnnies with 72 yards on 20 carries, while Weber had three catches for 77 yards. Senior defensive end Mike Schumacher (Arden Hills, Minn./Totino-Grace) and senior safety John Cloeter (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) posted 11 tackles each for SJU. Schumacher had two of the Johnnies’ seven tackles for loss in the game. Junior defensive tackle Nick Gunderson (Woodbury, Minn.) made seven tackles (three solo) and blocked a field goal in the game.

Athletic Department
Saint John’s University
PO Box 7277
Collegeville, MN 56321
320-363-2757
Fax 320-363-3130
E-Mail Marilyn Koltes