Bethel.
How can one word raise the irritation level of Johnnie Faithful across the nation? Quite simply put, with the recent demise of the Tommie Football program, we needed a new rival and Bethel stepped up. Not only have they stepped up, but they have stepped ON the Johnnies recently.
In a year where the MIAC is as difficult to understand as most of Bob Dylan’s lyrics, this game is a perfect capsule of all that is confusing in the conference. No one would have pegged Bethel to be limping into the game with a 1-3 record, and few would have imagined the Johnnies, although 3-1, struggling as mightily as they have been on offense and special teams.
In order to make the playoffs, the Johnnies need to both win out AND get help. All of that is moot, however, if they Jays do not take care of business in Arden Hills this Saturday. This game will be a defining game for the Johnnies this season. The Johnnies need to win and make a statement to the rest of the league that, “We are not out of this yet!” Bethel needs to win to start saving face on a highly disappointing start to the season.
That being said, here is what the Johnnie Nation can expect to see from the Royals on Saturday:
Bethel on Offense
Gone is reigning MIAC MVP and Johnnie Slayer Ben Wetzell, and the Bethel passing game has struggled without him. Junior Reid Velo (Nashwauk, MN) started the first three games, going 18-41 for 368 yards with 5 TD and 3 INT. Although sophomore Caleb Graff (Buena Vista, CO) started the game against Concordia, Freshman Josh Aakre (Dawson, MN) took a majority of the snaps. By all indications, look for Bethel to start Aakre on Saturday.
With new blood at the quarterback, Bethel has relied on its strong running game to churn out yards this season. Led by returning All-MIAC sophomore running back Logan Flannery’s (Lakeville, MN) 449 yards and 5.8 average per carry, Bethel has nearly a 2:1 run to pass ratio to start the year. However, Flannery was banged up during last week’s loss to Concordia and junior Dusty Wahl (Mahtomedi, MN) finished the game.
When Bethel throws the ball, they almost exclusively go to senior WR Aaron Bernstetter (Holdingford, MN). Thus far, he has 22 catches for 378 yards and 4 TD. This accounts for more than half the Royals completed passes for the season. Rounding out the staring receiving corps for the Royals are senior TE Nick Otto (White Bear Lake, MN) and junior WR Joel Quick (Johnston, IA).
Bethel’s large bodies up front have given the Johnnies trouble recently, and with two returning starters in senior OT John Scrabeck, 321 pounds (Byron, MN), an All-MIAC pick last year, and G Mike Ervin, 283 pounds (Bloomington, MN) look for them to again try to impose their will on the smaller Johnnie front.
Bethel on Defense
On defense, D3football.com Pre-season All-American junior Tim Cornish (Wayzata, MN) has become a superstar in the MIAC. Coming into the season, he lost his other three starting defensive backs (do the names Carr and Wagner bring back bad memories to Johnnie fans?), and has stepped up his game while the new group of D-Backs have adapted to MIAC action. Luckily, senior Nathan Holm (Gilette, WY), who has started games in each of the last three seasons, has stepped up his game as well to assist in the rebuilding of the Royal secondary.
Bethel’s linebackers are led by seniors Nate Voronyak (Orono, MN) and Darin Schwarze (Stanwood, WA), and sophomores Trent Peterson (Shakopee, MN) and Cory Syihla (Foley, MN). On paper, this group has appeared to gel very well, and is making tackles all over the field.
Up front defensively, Bethel is led by senior DE Aaron Mills (Traverse City, MI) and junior DE Andrew Johnson (Maple Grove, MN). Combined, Mills and Johnson have 11.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. Also fitting into the equation on the defensive line is NG Jared Lyle (Elgin, IL).
Summary
Even though the Johnnie offense showed a little life last week, they will have a much more daunting task ahead of them this week with an excellent Bethel defense. Hopefully the Jays’ quarterback merry-go-round has ended, and we can begin to build an offensive game plan built around one quarterback.
Records aside, I am really concerned about the match-up problems the Royals present to our offense. Unless we gain momentum early, I have a bad feeling about what may transpire Saturday in Arden Hills. Regardless, I’d say be prepared for another defensive showdown with my early thoughts leaning toward a game played in the teens.
