ST. PAUL, Minn. – The atmosphere was as good as you'll find in Division III football on Saturday evening when the University of Northwestern Football team renewed a rivalry with an old friend, Bethel University. It was the first time the two teams, separated by less than two miles, had squared off since 1991, and the first time at Northwestern since 1990. That 1990 game would end up being the final game former Northwestern and Bethel head coach Chub Reynolds would ever coach, as he passed away from cancer just two days later. The strong ties made Saturday night's game, which took place in the stadium named for Reynolds, that much more emotional for both sides. After Reynolds' family joined the Eagles' captains for the coin toss, the well-over-capacity crowd of nearly 2,500 was ready for some football.
Bethel, who received votes in this week's D3Football Top 25 Poll, was ready to go on the opening possession of its season, going 65 yards in six plays, capped off by a 14-yard touchdown run. After intercepting a
Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake) pass, the Royals seemed poised to strike again, but the UNW defense was able to turn them over on downs to get possession back. After a second interception on a deep ball down the middle of the field, Bethel didn't make the same mistake twice, going 50 yards and punching in a touchdown from a yard out. The visitors would go on to score two more times in the opening stanza to lead 28-0.
Northwestern struggled to get much offense going for much of the first half and had some big gains called back due to penalties.
Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) caught a 14-yard pass for a first down early in the second period, but a sack on second down forced UNW to punt. The Eagles were able to get the ball across midfield right before the half, but ran out of time as Bethel took a 42-0 lead into the intermission.
The halftime adjustments UNW made paid off. After an opening-drive touchdown for the Royals in the third quarter, Northwestern's defense held them scoreless the rest of the way. Burk caught back-to-back passes from Cantrell for a combined 17 yards that gave the Eagles some momentum, but a turnover on downs gave it back to Bethel. UNW had the ball in enemy territory three times in the second half, including after its biggest play of the night, a 40-yard completion from Cantrell to
Keaton Sargent (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan) after some outstanding patient from Northwestern's signal caller. Unfortunately, the Eagles were only able to come away with three points thanks to a 26-yard field goal from
Dominic Borges (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) on their next possession. The final score would read: Bethel 49, Northwestern 3.
Aside from Sargent's one reception for 40 yards, Burk's seven catches for 63 yards were the highlight for the UNW offense. Cantrell finished with 138 yards on 13 of 25 passing and two interceptions. On the defensive side of the ball,
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) led the Eagles with 11 tackles, a pass breakup and a forced a fumble.
Jake Tupper (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) forced a fumble as well, which was recovered by
Joshua Popp (Atwood, Kan./Rawlins County).
Luke Malamisuro (Cambridge Isanti, Minn./Cambridge Isanti) tallied seven tackles and two pass breakups, while
Nate Jennings (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) and
Mello Williams (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) each picked up their first career sacks in purple. Jennings added two tackles for loss, and
Jeffrey Markvicka II (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Fridley) added one as well, to go along with six tackles.
Northwestern will play another night game next Saturday, September 21
st, but this one will be its first on the road. The Eagles will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Stout for a 6:00 PM tout with the Blue Devils.
