MINNEAPOLIS – In a game that could easily be termed an "instant classic," the Augsburg University football team was edged 30-27 by nationally ranked Bethel University in a game for the top spot in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Skyline Division on Saturday afternoon at Edor Nelson Field.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Bethel 30, Augsburg 27
LOCATION: Edor Nelson Field, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 6-3 overall (4-3 MIAC), Bethel 8-1 overall (7-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The game proved to be a spectacular, no-holds-barred contest between two of the best offenses in the MIAC. The teams combined for 791 yards of total offense, with Augsburg gaining 428 yards (6.0 yards per-play gained on 71 plays) and Bethel gaining 363 yards (7.0 yards per-play on 52 plays). There was just one punt and two penalties in the contest. Each team scored touchdowns on four of their seven drives, with each of the eight scoring drives lasting nine plays or more. And neither team led by more than a touchdown in the game.
• Bethel took a 28-21 lead going into the fourth quarter, but a nine-play, 57-yard drive by the Auggies was halted on an interception in the end zone with 11:03 left in the fourth quarter. Augsburg got the ball back after the defense forced a Bethel turnover on downs at the Auggie 23-yard line with 4:13 left. Augsburg drove down the field in 11 plays, converting a key fourth down on a 30-yard pass from Cade Sheehan (SO, Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) to Dominic Smith (SO, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake HS), which put the ball at the Bethel 18-yard line with under a minute to play. Four plays later, Sheehan scrambled for a five-yard rushing touchdown with 31 seconds left, cutting the lead to 28-27. Augsburg attempted a two-point conversion, but its pass attempt was intercepted by Bethel's Devin Williams in the end zone, and he returned it 100 yards for two points for the Royals. Augsburg's onside kick attempt was covered by the Royals, sealing the win for the visitors.
• Sheehan completed 25-of-37 passes for 261 yards and two scores -- a 22-yard touchdown pass to Braden Tretter (SO, Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice HS) on the opening drive of the game, and an eight-yard scoring pass to Smith in the third quarter. In addition to Sheehan's late rushing score, he also rushed for a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He ended up rushing 17 times for 77 yards in the game.
• Smith caught nine passes for 123 yards and also attempted two halfback-option passes, one completed to Sheehan for 18 yards in the second quarter. Tretter caught eight pases for 69 yards, and tight end Michael Ims (JR, Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) caught three passes for 51 yards. Running back DJ Monroe (SO, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) had eight carries for 41 yards.
• Defensively, linebacker Justin Tverberg (SO, Farmington, Minn./Hastings HS) had his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season, leading the Auggies with 10 tackles (three solo). Camdin Carlson-Mathies (SR, Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice HS) had eight tackles (five solo), and Gerald Shepherd (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) had six tackles (three solo).
 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• The game was the final college appearance at Edor Nelson Field for nine Augsburg seniors -- Carlson-Mathies, Zach Flaschberger (SR, Shoreview, Minn./Centennial HS), Lionel Gates (SR, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), Dylan Hein (SR, Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie HS), Jordan Huse (SR, Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS), Paul Lemke (SR, Glencoe, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake HS), Christopher Mullen (SR, Lindsborg, Kan./Smoky Valley HS), Apny Omol (SR, Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) and Sydney Royalty (SR, Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King HS).

FOR THE FOES
• Bethel running back Bryce Kunkle gained 109 yards on 18 carries with two third-quarter touchdowns -- a 16-yard score and a 4-yard score. David Geebil rushed 13 times for 84 yards.
• Quarterback Jaran Roste completed 7-of-10 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in the first half, before leaving the game due to injury. George Bolt relieved him and completed 2-of-3 passes for 34 yards. Wide receiver Aaron Ellingson completed a 25-yard halfback option touchdown pass to Joey Kidder in the first quarter, and Kidder also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Roste in the second quarter.
• Matthew Feldick had 16 tackles (11 solo), and Nate Farm had nine tackles (seven solo) to lead the Bethel defense.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg closes its season next Saturday (11/12) at 1 p.m. with a MIAC divisional crossover game at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. The Auggies and Gusties finished second in their respective MIAC divisions this season.