Bethany College Top 10: Number 8
The first year under new head football coach Manny Matsakis started with a bang. The Swedes knocked off Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Texas for his first victory as a Swede. Bethany's first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) win took quite a bit more work, however. The Swedes upset Tabor College, who was then ranked 7th in the NAIA, 24-17. The Swedes' first KCAC win of the 2013 season puts them number eight in the Swedes countdown of Top 10 Moments for Bethany Athletics of the 2013-2014 season.
Following the 35-20 win over SAGU to start the season, Bethany lost their next seven games, including the first six in the KCAC. The chance for the Swedes to march into Hillsboro and make noise in the KCAC looked challenging. But, like the old saying goes, "The score may be decided on paper, but you still have to play the game."
As Paul Mogenson pointed out in his weekly column, Moge's Musings- October 31, 2013, the series between Bethany and Tabor has produced upsets before. Mogenson referenced the 2000 game, when Bethany lost 14-7, and many thought they would win the conference easily. But it has gone both ways; Bethany traveled to Tabor College with a team under .500 in 2004 and pulled off a 28-27 upset in overtime.
Bethany would have to ignore what the paper said. On paper, Tabor was one of the best offenses in the league. The Blue Jays were 3rd in scoring, first with their rushing attack, and first in total offense. Their attack featured the top rusher in the conference, fullback James Monroe. Monroe led the Blue Jays attack of 439 yards per game, 320.6 yards on the ground, tallying 153.8 yards per game on his own.
That's exactly what the Swedes did; well that's not all that they did. The Swedes held Tabor 111 yards under their season average on the ground, while through the air the Blue Jays only managed 80 yards. Tabor recorded 289 total yards, which was 150 less than their season average at that point.
The defense of Tabor was nothing to laugh at either. They were tied for first in sacks. In addition, the Blue Jays were second in scoring, total defense, and rushing defense. They were third in third down percentage and passing defense.
Offensively, Bethany had a balanced attack. The Swedes rushed for 149 yards, and Zach Dovenbarger threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Bethany had more first downs than Tabor, capitalized on almost half of their third down conversions, and on three-of-four fourth down conversions.
"The Tabor game was a highlight of our season as a very young team (seven freshmen starting on offense) went into Hillsboro and pulled off the biggest upset in the NAIA 2013 season over the 7th ranked team in the nation," said head football coach Manny Matsakis.
Trailing 10-0 at half, and 17-0 early in the third quarter, it would have been easy to pack up the bags and throw in the towel. But instead, the Swedes battled against one of the best in the KCAC and the NAIA. The result: rattling off 24 straight points and sealing the victory with a defensive stand.
Down by 17, the Swedes took over on the 36 yard line. 13 plays, three third down conversions, another picked up on a defensive pass interference, and a five yard run on fourth down, Bethany found themselves in the end zone. Dovenbarger scrambled on a fourth and four from the five yard line and dove into the end zone for Bethany's first score of the day. The drive took roughly six and a half minutes off the clock and was one of the longest scoring drives of the season.
The Swedes got the ball right back on a fumble and drove down into field goal range for Cody Lyter. Lyter's 34-yard field goal attempt was good and pulled Bethany within a score. After a defensive stop, Bethany took over on their own one yard line. They were able to create some wiggle room, getting out to the 20-yard line, but were unable to sustain the drive. The Blue Jays helped Bethany by fumbling the punt and the Swedes recovered. The very next play, Dovenbarger hit Rodney Molette on a fade route from 22 yards out for a quick touchdown strike. With 11:10 left in the game Bethany had tied it up at 17.
Bethany's defense did their job on the next possession. Tabor only managed a short four play drive and were forced to punt. The Swedes took over on their own 43-yard line with all the momentum. Over the next seven plays, Bethany moved the ball down to the Blue Jays 16-yard line. An intentional grounding penalty looked like the drive might stall as the Swedes faced a third and 18 from the 30-yard line. Dovenbarger took the snap in the shotgun, looked left, and came back to his right. He found Kelton Evans streaking down the right sideline for the score and the lead.
One last time the Swedes defense was called on to make a stand. That's exactly what they did. Bethany never allowed Tabor to reach the 50-yard line. On a fourth and two from the 47-yard line, the Tabor quarterback was taken down for a four yard loss, Bethany took over on downs and sealed the upset, come from behind win.
Bethany Upsets #7 Tabor College from Parthenon Media Group on Vimeo.
Throughout the summer, each week on Friday afternoon, Bethany will release a top moment story from the past year in athletics. This is the third release, and they will run until Friday, August 8.
BC top moments of 2013-2014:
Moment number 9 – Swedes Softball's Record-Setting Season
Moment number 8 – Football's Come From Behind Upset Win Over Nationally Ranked Tabor College