COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. – The MIAC football schedule called for conference play to start on Sept. 28. The matchups included St. John’s visiting Bethel, an early test for the league’s two power programs.
The Johnnies arrived with Aaron Syverson as a fourth-year starter at quarterback. Bethel would be rolling with Cooper Drews, a sophomore transfer from St. John’s who had not thrown a collegiate pass.
The action was competitive for a time on that sunny Saturday, then St. John’s pulled away for a 45-20 victory. Yet, there was a strong conviction that there was not a four-touchdown difference in the overall strength of these two teams.
The MIAC went to a division system after St. Thomas’ departure in fall 2021 and there was a probability of a rematch on what’s called “championship week.” St. John’s ran through the competition, tested only once at Concordia. Bethel did the same — with an easier win last week at Concordia.
So there it was Saturday — St. John’s vs. Bethel — and there was nothing comfortable about this 41-33 Johnnies victory on their home turf.
“I was hoping it wouldn’t be a shootout,” St. John’s coach Gary Fasching said. “It wasn’t that in the first half, but it turned into one at the finish.”
No kidding, Coach: Johnnies 13-9 in the first half, 28-24 in the second.
When it was over, Bethel had 411 yards and St. John’s 410. Syverson was a tremendous 32-for-44 for 419 yards and five touchdowns, but he also was sacked eight times.