UWSP Football

UW-Stevens Point returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns and also had a defensive extra point to rally past Bethel (Minn.) for its first-ever NCAA Division III playoff victory with a 37-27 win Saturday in Stevens Point.

The teams combined for 847 yards of total offense and Bethel also had a kickoff return for a touchdown. UW-Stevens Point advances to play at St. John�s on Sat., Nov. 24 at noon in Collegeville, Minn. in the second round.

Bethel�s Scott Ylkanen returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and the Royals added a two-point conversion for a quick 8-0 lead. After a missed Pointer field goal, Bethel drove eight plays in 80 yards and took a 14-0 lead on a two-yard run by Mike Johnson.

However, UW-Stevens Point�s Heath Novitzke blocked the extra point and teammate Matt Stoehr scooped up the loose ball and returned it for the first-ever defensive conversion in Pointer history.

Pointers� quarterback Scott Krause broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run on the next possession and then UW-Stevens Point�s Tim Rabas hit Ylkanen on the ensuing kickoff, causing a fumble that Jonah Roth returned eight yards for a touchdown as the Pointers scored 15 points in a span of 2:28 to take the lead.

However, Johnson added a seven-yard run with 2:30 left in the first quarter as Bethel took a 20-15 lead. Johnson had 90 yards on seven carries in the first quarter, but had just 28 yards on his final 13 carries to finish with 118 yards.

UW-Stevens Point took a 24-20 lead into halftime on a four-yard touchdown run by Lance Gast early in the second quarter and a 28-yard field goal by Ricardo Vega with 18 seconds left in the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Pointers took a 30-20 lead on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Krause that capped a 13-play, 54-yard drive. UW-Stevens Point converted two fourth downs on the drive and was four-for-six on fourth down in the game.

Pointers� cornerback Kurt Trunkel had an interception on Bethel�s next possession, and after a UW-Stevens Point punt, Novitzke intercepted another Royals� pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to give the Pointers a 37-20 lead with 7:55 left.

Jesse Dick added a late touchdown for the Royals, but UW-Stevens Point ran out the clock for the victory.

The Pointers rushed for 245 yards, which was easily the most allowed by Bethel this season after the Royals entered the game with the nation�s second-best rushing defense. UW-Stevens Point�s 37 points was also the most given up by Bethel this year.

Jason VanderVelden rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries and Krause had 79 yards rushing, becoming the first players to rush for more than 70 yards against the Bethel defense this season. Joel Olson had nine catches for 84 yards for Bethel.