Johnnies defeat Bethel for MIAC title

The first-ever MIAC Championship game was held at Bethel last Saturday as the fifth-ranked Johnnies traveled to Arden Hills to take on the thirteenth-ranked Bethel Royals.

These two teams had already met this season in a highly contested, back-and-forth game in a week four matchup in Collegeville. The first MIAC championship did not disappoint in producing a similarly competitive game, as the Johnnies needed literally every second to come from behind and defeat Bethel 29-28 to win the MIAC.

Unlike last game, which featured both teams trading touchdowns for most of the game, this championship game was a tale of two halves.

Bethel jumped out to a quick start in the first half as they recovered a fumble at midfield on the game’s first drive and then needed only one play to get on the board and take a 7-0 lead. After the next Johnnie drive stalled on five plays, Bethel methodically marched the ball down the field and scored to increase their lead to 14-0.

“We talk before every game about getting a great start and setting the tone for the game,” St. John’s Head Coach Gary Fasching said. “That obviously didn’t happen on Saturday.”

After Bethel jumped out to their quick start, St. John’s came back with a long touchdown drive of their own, going 75 yards on 14 plays.

On the ensuing point-after-touchdown attempt, St. Johns’ holder, junior wide receiver Nick VanErp, took the snap and ran to the right where he dove and knocked over the end zone pylon to cut the lead to 14-8.

“That was not a planned fake,” first-year kicker Conor Pavelko said. “Our starting long snapper, Jack Eibensteiner, was injured on the first punt of the game, and he was not on the field for the first PAT.”

As a result, the Johnnies turned to an emergency long snapper and the snap on the extra point was a little off, causing VanErp to run the ball.

Bethel increased their lead to 21-8 with less than a minute left in the first half after driving the length of the field on eight plays.

Despite being down by 13 going into the break, the Johnnies did not get demoralized.

“I was very proud of our players and coaches,” Fasching said. “We never gave up, didn’t hang our head, and just kept fighting to get back into the game.”

The second half kicked off with a quick three and out from the Bethel offense with the Johnnies getting the ball back on their own 34-yard line.

Running plays that were mostly on the ground, St. John’s took almost six minutes off the clock and scored to make it 21-15.

“We made some halftime adjustments on defense that worked well in the second half, and then we committed to running the football,” Fasching said. “Once we got momentum going, the tide of the game turned in our favor.”

St. John’s dominated the entirety of the second half, outgaining the Royals 253-83, with most of their yards coming in the rushing game. Bethel scored once on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and the Johnnies scored another time, making the score 28-22 Bethel with twelve minutes left.

After both teams turned the ball over on downs a couple of times, St. John’s got the ball on their own 29 yard line with less than two minutes left.

After converting a huge third and 10 play with a long pass to senior wide receiver Jimmy Buck, the Johnnies drove the ball down to the Bethel three-yard line.

With the clock running, senior quarterback Chris Backes snapped the ball and threw a touchdown pass to junior tight end Alex Larson.

“We never gave up. We were down the whole game and we ended up getting the win,” Larson said. “This was just awesome.”

The game was not over, however, as Pavelko had to attempt the PAT to give St. John’s the lead and the MIAC championship.

“My blood was definitely pumping a little bit on the last extra point,” Pavelko said. “I really just did my best to stay calm, clear my mind and make a solid swing. I had all the faith in the world that there would be a good snap and a good hold, and my teammates all did their jobs.”

Pavelko’s extra point made the difference as St. John’s not only secured yet another MIAC Championship but also locked an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.

With the Johnnies’ perfect 10-0 regular season including key wins over Bethel, Aurora and Gustavus, they were selected as a one-seed in the tournament.

They host No. 24 Lake Forest (10-0(9-0 Midwest)) on Saturday at noon at Clemens Stadium for the first-round game.