Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - Saturday's opening football game of the 2017 season may have not been the prettiest victory, but the Spartans improved to 1-0 after a come-from-behind double overtime thriller at Bethel University by a 32-26 margin.
UD scored first on a 24 yard pass by Conor Feckley to Sam Morton to take a 7-0 lead after a Brayden Neuendorf extra point. The host Royals responded with a 22 yard strike to Bryce Marquardt on a five play 38 yard drive to close the game to 7-6 after a failed extra point. UD's Kody Riemer collected a 21 yard pass and the Spartans missed extra point try to extend the lead 13-6 after one quarter. UD was held to a two point safety in the second quarter as Bethel scored twice. The Royals added seven points on a Levi Duininck two yard run before Jake Marsh found Marquardt once again, for a 65 yard touchdown. to carry a 20-15 lead at the half.
Third quarter scoring was limited to a 26 yard field goal by Bethel to extend the lead 23-15. The Spartans battled back and scored with 11:14 on the clock in the final quarter on a 38 yard grab by Riemer and a Feckley ran in the ball for a two point conversion to tie the game 23-23. UD missed two field goal attempts in the final minutes to end regulation 23-23.
Both teams finished the first overtime with a field goal each to once again tie this time at at 26-26. In the second overtime, UD scored on a Dwayne Allen Jr. four yard scamper up the middle and missed the extra point attempt to grab the lead 32-26. Bethel started their drive and opened with a penalty. A tackle for loss by Raven Woods II left Bethel on the Spartans 35 yard line. Three incomplete passes ended the Royals chances and UD won their opener in front of a crowd of nearly 3,000.
The Spartans finished with 28 first downs, 146 yards on the ground and 337 yards passing for a combined 483 yards. UD held edge in time of possession 32:14 to Bethel's 27:46. Allen Jr. led UD with 16 attempts for 65 yards. Feckley completed 29-65 passes for 337 yards and a trio of touchdowns. His favorite target was Emanuel Jenkins who caught 13 passes for 161 yards. Reimer grabbed five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
Jacob Rentz punted five times for 217 yards (43.4 yard average) with his longest being 50 yards and he placed one inside the 20 yardline. UD's defense was anchored by a pair of Derek's. Derek Trotter led with 12 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. Derek Schambow collected eight tackles, recovered two Bethel fumbles, and had one pass break-up. Ravon Woods II had nine tackles, with 2.5 for losses of seven yards. Doug Gates intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards and Johnny Higgins had a third interception and returned it 15 yards.
The Spartans (1-0 overall) host the Pacific University Boxers next Saturday on Chalmers Field at 6:00 p.m.