Mike McElroy had a meeting on Sunday night, although it was not with his coaching staff for the Bethel University football team. It was for a church board on which he serves, and McElroy figured he owed that group an appearance now that the Royals’ season had ended.
Bethel had lost twice to St. John’s — decisively the first time, narrowly the second — to finish as runners-up in the MIAC. The Royals received an at-large bid to a Division III playoff field increased from 32 to 40 teams for 2024, and put together a terrific run:
Home wins over Coe, 31-26, and Lake Forest (Ill.), 48-21, and then a 24-14 win over Wartburg in Waverly, Iowa. The Royals won, 24-14, and did so with a physical advantage over a team known for its physical play.
At the same time in the round of 16, St. John’s was being upset at home by Susquehanna, 41-38. Which meant, rather than facing the Johnnies for a third time, Bethel was in Selinsgrove, Pa. — flying into Harrisburg, bussing north for an hour or so — taking on Susquehanna in the DIII quarterfinals on Saturday.
Bethel led 21-17 into the final minute. The River Hawks had been stood up two straight plays at the goal line. On fourth down, quarterback Josh Ehrlich plunged into a pile that hardly budged, but the referee on the left sideline raised his arms.
Photos from a certain angle indicated the ball above inched to the imaginary goal line. For sure, it was not a decisive muscle into the end zone for Ehrlich.