ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The no. 25 Coe College Football team saw its 2024 season come to a close on Saturday afternoon, falling to no. 21 Bethel University 31-26 in the opening round of the NCAA DIII Football Playoffs. The Kohawks and Royals traded punches throughout the game but the hosts outscored Coe 10-0 in the third quarter and held on in the fourth quarter as the Kohawks tried to make a late comeback. Sophomore fill-in quarterback
Brady Kelly was outstanding despite the defeat, completing 17-of-27 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in just his third career start. Kelly connected with six different receivers on the day including
Jeron Senters eight times for 121 yards and two scores. The Kohawk rushing attack was led by
Trenton Barnes who carried the rock 21 times for 52 yards and one touchdown against the nation's leading run defense.
LaDaininan Linnear and
Ben Adelsberger tied for a team-high 13 tackles on the defensive side of the ball while Adelsberger and
Alex Aitchison forced fumbles.
AJ Ambundo came up with Coe's other defensive turnover, picking off a pass later in the third quarter.
GAME FACTS
no. 21 BETHEL 31 - no. 25 COE 26
- Coe handled the first offensive possession of the game and quickly had to punt after a sack on third and seven. The Kohawks got the ball back on the punt as the Royals muffed it to a recovering Kyle Kingsbury. Barnes found paydirt seven plays later to capitalize on the miscue, giving the Kohawks a 7-0 lead with a three-yard rushing touchdown. Bethel tied the game before the end of the first quarter, scoring a touchdown on its third drive of the frame. The Royals stopped Coe on a 4th and 2 and took advantage of the plus field position. Bethel marched 49 yards over 14 plays and took nearly six minutes off the clock to tie the game. The hosts took advantage of another offensive miscue early in the second quarter, forcing a fumble from Barnes before taking a seven-point lead with an eight-yard TD pass. Coe got the score back a few possessions later as the defense came up clutch. Aitchison blew up a play deep in Bethel territory, sacking the quarterback on third and 10 to force a fumble recovered by Barron Lenz who returned it for a three-yard score. The Royals bounced back from the momentum-shifting play, responding with a 15-play, 67-yard drive to regain a 21-13 lead. Kelly found Senters for his first touchdown of the day later in the quarter, cutting the deficit to one at the halftime break with a 37-yard strike to his wide receiver. Bethel would regain control of the game in the third quarter, scoring 10 points with an early touchdown and a late field goal to go up 31-20 before the start of the fourth. Coe and Bethel traded scoreless possessions to begin the fourth quarter but the Koahwks pulled closer midway through as Kelly connected with Senters from eight yards out. The score capped off a quick-strike drive where the Kohawk gunslinger hit Senters for 20 yards, Latrell Taylor for 41 and Slade Huerta for 13. Coe's defense stepped up to the challenge one final time to give the offense a chance, forcing a punt from the Royals with 2:10 to play. Kelly and the offense struggled to get anything going on the final drive, taking over at their own three yard line before turning it over on downs with 1:37 left to play.
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