Susquehanna defeated Bethel on one of the most insane finishes to any college football game this season and will play in the semifinal round of the Division-III playoffs for the first time in over three decades. The victors narrowly escaped defeat on the final play, which technically happened twice.
A walk-off Hail Mary was overturned due to a controversial holding penalty and resulted in one untimed down.
Bethel University is a private Baptist university and seminary located in Arden Hills, Minnesota. It enrolls approximately 6,500 students— but only 2,800 undergrads. Susquehanna University is a private liberal arts college located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. It enrolls approximately 2,200 students— all undergrads.
Sixth-ranked Susquehanna hosted unranked Bethel on Saturday. The River Hawks scored a go-ahead touchdown from inside the one-yard-line on 4th-and-goal with less than one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. The Royals came excruciatingly close to what would’ve been a game-winning stop.
On 4th & Goal from the half-yard line, Josh Ehrlich barely makes it to the goal line, but it is TD @SURiverHawksFB for a 24-21 lead over @BethelRoyalsFB. There are 35.8 seconds left after the kickoff, and Bethel has no timeouts from their 27. @D3FBHuddle #d3fb pic.twitter.com/Dg8w6ot3Wd
— Frank Rossi (@FrankRossi) December 14, 2024
Bethel got the ball back and very quickly drove past midfield to the 30-yard-line.
With one play left, the Royals went to the air. The Hail Mary attempt was caught in the end zone for what seemed to be a walk-off touchdown for the visitors. Electric would be an understatement.
Pass is caught for a TD but there's a holding call against Bethel. Automatic runoff, refs call game, but then announce a replay of down.
— Logan Moyer (@ByLoganMoyer) December 14, 2024
0:00 4Q: #21 Bethel 21, #6 Susquehanna 17.@dailyitemsports @NIsports #d3fb @WilliamBBowman pic.twitter.com/Ye2HMuMyEE
However, a holding call brought the play back to the 40 for one final untimed down. The untimed down went backward. Susquehanna won.
FINAL: #21 Bethel 21, #6 Susquehanna 24.
— Logan Moyer (@ByLoganMoyer) December 14, 2024
After all the hoopla about the final two plays, SU wins it. The River Hawks are heading to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in over three decades.@dailyitemsports @NIsports #d3fb @WilliamBBowman @HummelTodd pic.twitter.com/QKrRoE2eVu
The officials did not give a specific number for the holding call, but it is pinned on No. 77 in the official game summary. Here is another look at the play in question:
— – (@Spicoli_____) December 14, 2024
Was holding the correct call?
Bethel fans are not so sure. They believe it was some home cooking.
However, it did appear as though their right tackle and running back grabbed onto the River Hawks’ pass rusher as he broke into the backfield. You can be the judge:
In the end, what’s done is done. Susquehanna’s season continues. Bethel’s college football season ends on a controversial holding penalty that negated its walk-off Hail Mary.