ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The No. 9 St. Thomas football team fell on the road for the second time this season Saturday at Royals Stadium with a 21-15 loss to Bethel.
In a game that could have all but secured a NCAA playoff berth, the Tommies (6-2 MIAC, 8-2 overall) were unable to overcome an early two touchdown deficit against the Royals (7-1 MIAC, 9-1 overall).
“(I’m) obviously crushed,” coach Glenn Caruso said. “It’s a very good football team that we played.”
The Royals looked to run away with this game early, ending their first two drives with a 41-yard touchdown dash by halfback Sam Gibas and a 93-yard score by quarterback Jaran Roste.
Down 14-0 midway through the first quarter, Tommie quarterback Jacques Perra and the receivers attempted to keep their team in the game. Perra ended with 237 yards passing yards, one interception and two touchdowns. His first touchdown came near the end of the first quarter on a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Gabe Green.
Neither team scored throughout the rest of the half, giving the Tommies a 14-7 deficit from which to fight back in the second half. After another scoring stalemate through the third quarter, it was Bethel that struck again. After blocking a quarterback punt off the leg of Perra, the Royals recovered the ball in the end zone, reattaining a two-possession lead with just under 13 minutes left to play.
Perra brought St. Thomas back after a long 10 minutes of play with a 4-yard touchdown to tight end Zach Bennington. A successful two-point conversion narrowed the gap to six with 2:20 left in the game. However, the Tommies were unable to recover the onside kick attempt, sealing their 21-15 fate.
“We can’t get behind in that scenario versus a good team and expect that it is going to work out in our favor,” Caruso said, “and it didn’t.”
The Tommies rushing struggled heavily against the Royals defense. Halfback Josh Parks carried the ball 17 times and recorded 33 rushing yards, his lowest total of the season.
The Tommies defense, after allowing 355 total yards in a 14-13, come-from-behind win against Gustavus last week, looked to rebound against Bethel. Instead, the unit gave up 394 total yards. After the first two Bethel drives, the Tommies kept the Royals out of the endzone, forced one fumble and recorded one interception.
Defensive back Jordan Lundell, who pulled in the pick, knows he may have played his last game as a Tommie.
“Obviously, it’s tough,” he said. “Being a senior with all my other senior brothers, it’s going to be tough to see everyone leave and not be directly part of this program anymore.”
Lundell said it “was an honor” playing for this team, and the season was “pretty unbelievable.”
For Caruso, the loss is just as painful.
“My heart hurts for our whole team, our whole program and specifically our 19 seniors,” Caruso said.
Even though their chances to make the playoffs aren’t completely gone, the Tommies no longer control their own destiny. They now have to wait until Sunday to see if their season will continue for at least another week.
”That’s our own fault,” Caruso said. “If we are blessed enough to get an opportunity,that’s great, but it’s completely out of our hands.”
Matthew Curry can be reached at curr1523@stthomas.edu.