Wheaton College eliminated from playoffs

Long after Saturday's football game was over and Bethel University had started celebrating its 15-10 win over Wheaton College in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, Thunder senior Kyle Notch walked a lonely path in the center of McCully Stadium's turf.

Leaving the field meant ending his college playing days.

Thunder coach Mike Swider was more than aware of the feelings of his players. All losses hurt, but this one was just a little tougher than most.

“It's what's at stake,” Swider said. “That's what makes it hurt is what's at stake. I mean, we had a chance to keep playing. That's what hurts is what you lost by not winning the game.”

The key moment came with 2:33 to play in the game. Bethel quarterback Josh Aakre took the snap and moved to his right, as if the play were a sweep. As he neared the center of the field, Aakre spun and threw a dump-off screen pass to Logan Flannery, the Royals' key back. Flannery took the ball up the left sideline and scored to put the visitors ahead to stay.

“It's just a little misdirection,” Bethel coach Steve Johnson said. “That's a pretty good player. People keep an eye on him a lot. (Aakre) made a nice throw. We stay up at night trying to find ways to get (Flannery) lost.”

Wheaton College (10-2) dominated the first half territorially, though offensive statistics were nearly even. Crucially, despite a series of drives that moved into Bethel territory, the only points of the half came on a 12-yard Freddy Ellis TD catch from tailback Joey Skogen, who threw from the Wildcat formation.

But as the game progressed, Bethel (11-1) slowly imposed its offense on the game. The final statistics showed the Royals outgaining the Thunder 318-212 and having run 81 plays to Wheaton College's 51.

“We feel like they shouldn't have scored on us,” Wheaton College junior Robert Ramsay said. “We play a ‘bend but don't break defense.' We felt like that was going to continue and we just couldn't make the stops.”

The Thunder used the Wildcat formation and a no-huddle offense to try to keep Bethel off-balance.

“We just tried to do something different,” Swider said. “And we did. It got us some first downs and some things.”

Wheaton College kept that lead into the second half, but turnovers helped get the Royals get back into the game. First a fumble recovery set Bethel up at midfield, and it eventually scored on an Aakre 1-yard run. Nick Love gave Bethel the lead with a 27-yard field goal on the last play of the third quarter.

The Thunder regained the lead with 11:51 to play when Scott Roche hit a 49-yard field goal, his second-longest kick ever.

A fumbled punt by Wheaton College proved to be the other key turnover. While it didn't directly lead to Bethel points, the Thunder would have gotten the ball at midfield. Instead, when Bethel finally punted, it pinned the Thunder deep in its own territory.

“We couldn't sustain any drive in keeping our defense off the field and getting some first downs,” Swider said.