ARDEN HILLS, MINN. -- The Wartburg College Knight's season came to an end Saturday against Bethel University. An explosive Bethel offense and stifling defense put the Knights in an early whole, one in which they would not climb out of. By a score of 41-14, Bethel advances to the second-round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The game didn't start out as the Knights had planned, drawing two penalties in the first four plays of the game, which ultimately led to a three-and-out. Defensively, Wartburg bent but did not break on Bethels' first drive of the game. The Knights came up with a big stop on a Royal's fourth and four from Wartburg's 18 yard line. Wartburg's offense would once again go three-and-out on their second possession and the Bethel offense awoke. The Royals went 75 yards in 4-minutes and 34-seconds, to put the game's first score on the board.
On the Knight's third offensive possession the Royals came up with a second down quarterback sack that dropped the Knights back 17 yards. Wartburg, again would go three-and-out. An eight play 50 yard scoring drive in 2-minutes and 8-seconds would be the Royal's offensive response, putting them up 13-0 with 13:49 to go in the second quarter.
A fourth-straight three-and-out by the Wartburg offense sent the Knight's defense back on the field. Bethel went up 20-0 with a 9-play, 59 yard scoring drive in 4:40. With 8:18 to go in the first half Wartburg was picked off on the first play of their fifth series. The Knight's defense sent Bethels' offense back to the sideline with a three-and-out of their own. Now with 7:15 to go in the half, Wartburg moved the ball from their own six yard line to the 50 in six plays, but a holding penalty and nine yard sack put the Knights in a third and 27 situation. Wartburg quarterback
Matt Saicia dropped back for a third down pass but the coverage was thick and the pocket collapsed, sending him for an eight yard scamper. A run that would send the American Rivers Conference Offensive MVP to the sideline with what appeared to be a leg injury. Now fourth and 19 from their own 39 yard line, Wartburg punted the ball away.
On first down from their own 33 yard line, Bethel quarterback Jaran Roste went on a 67 yard run down the Wartburg sideline, giving the Royal's a 28-0 lead with 2:41 to go in the first half. With Sacia now watching from the sideline
Noah Dodd came in as the signal caller for the Knights. Dodd started out the series with two completions, one for three yards and one for 30, but a second and 10 pass attempt from Bethels' 34 was picked off by Kyle Peach and returned 75 yards for a score. The pick six sent Bethel into halftime with a 35-0 lead.
The fight was not out the Knights as their defense came out of the half and shut down the Royals' first possession. The Knight's offense, led by the return of Sacia, hammered out a 19 play, 71 yard drive to get on the board with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter. Wartburg's score came on a two yard pass to
Lee Bonifus. Unfortunately for Wartburg, the explosiveness of Bethels' offense struck again when Roste ran 41 yards down the home sideline for another score, giving Bethel a 41-7 lead with 1:49 to go in the third quarter.
The ensuing offensive possession resulted in turnover by Wartburg, giving the football to the Royals at their own 41 yard line, but the Knight's defense would answer back two plays later with a fumble recovery of their own. Nine plays and 44 yards later Wartburg found pay dirt for the second time, but only 2:33 remained on the clock. A trading of possessions and a final kneel down by Bethel brought Wartburg's season to an end.
Offensively the Knights were led by Sacia's 230-yards passing, connecting on 23-of-41 targets. Sacia finished the day with two touchdown passes. Running back
Mason Carter finished with 37 yards rushing on nine carries. With 91 yard receiving,
Kolin Schulte led the Knights. On the defensive side of the ball Wartburg's
Marcus Johnson was the leading tackler with 16.
The Wartburg College football team (8-3) closed out the 2018 season having earned the program's 12th trip to the playoffs and their 16th conference title.
