Dan Einerson and Brett Ripley of Alexandria were both apart of what was a historic year for the Bethel Royals football team in 2007.
Bethel won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this past season and finished with a 12-2 record and one game away from the NCAA Division III championship game.
The Royals lost to Mt. Union in the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs 62-14. In that game Einerson was called upon to step in and replace starting quarterback Ben Wetzell after aggravating the shoulder he injured in the previous playoff game. Einerson filled in for the MIAC MVP by throwing for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Mt. Union has been the best team in Division III football for the past three seasons for a reason, though, and they piled on the points early and often, building a lead that could not be overcome.
Their 37-game winning streak came to an end in the championship game when they were upset by UW-Whitewater.
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For the season, Einerson threw for 476 yards on 43-of-68 passing. He played in nine games, starting one and threw for three touchdowns.
Ripley, a sophomore defensive lineman, played in two games for the Royals and recorded one solo tackle and assisted on another.
