By JIM STEELE
pressbox1.com

McKENZIE, Tenn. - Bethel College's ground game gets a lot of attention and well it should.

The Wildcat runners are among the nation's leaders in yardage and scoring. However, quietly flying under, or more appropriately over, the radar is Bethel's vertical game. Saturday against Mid-America Nazerene University, the Wildcats rolled up 607 yards in a 55-34 first-round NAIA-playoff victory. 297 of those yards were propogated by the right arm of senior BC quarterback Ronnie Jankovich. To say he was hot is like saying the Himalayas are just rolling hills. The Wildcat signal caller was 16-19 with three TDs and an interception. His pass-efficiency rating is in the nose-bleed region at 257.09 for the game. This coming after Jankovich had suffered a concussion and was held out of last week's game.

For his performance, Jankovich was named the offensive MVP for the game by the NAIA. He must have wanted back in the lineup awfully bad.

"Ronnie sat out last week and he wanted to get back in real bad," said Bethel receiver Antonio Brown, Sr., who had a touchdown to go with four catches for 67 yards. "He had a good week of practice and it carried over into the game."

Jankovich said he was glad to get back in the huddle.

"It felt really great tonight; it seemed like their defense really slowed down for me," he said. "The offensive line gave me time to make plays."

Jankovich also made great reads and smart scrambles which allowed him to carry six times for 39 yards. He cracked a grin about his rushing effort.

"I'm not a running quarterback, per se, but it was there and I took it," he said. "If the opportunity arises, you have to take it."

Jankovich said the NAIA MVP honor and the Mid South Conference offensive player-of-the-year award wouldn't be possible without his teammates.

"It feels really good to get these honors, but I can't take the credit," he said. "Everybody does their part and the line really helps me out."

Offensive lineman Bruce Slusser said he was awed by the performance of his quarterback: "Ronnie was on and we were able to keep him protected and that's all that matters. We worked really hard this week."

Slusser said the balanced attack is something that makes Bethel that much more formidable.

"It opens everything up that much more," he said. "We can throw it and run it."

"That's our goal every week," said BC coach Dino Kaklis, looking up at the scoreboard. "When you can go into games and be balanced like we were today, it's very rewarding."

"Ronnie worked hard all week in the film sessions. He was dedicated and took time to get better," said senior receiver Buck Reed, who pulled down three catches for 41 yards and caught a conversion pass. "The line was the first thing. If they don't block, the quarterback can't throw and receivers can't catch."

Reed had a big fourth-and-3 catch to keep a drive alive. The play covered 19 yards.

"That play was huge, but every catch we had today was huge," said Jankovich. "Everybody stepped up tonight."

"Buck made a good catch on that play," said Brown, Sr. "We let him use his long arms to get it."

Brown, Sr. said the line made the difference in the victory.

"It's like the coach said, it all starts up front and when Ronnie has protection, you can see what he can do," he said. "And the receivers have to want the ball and have to have confidence; we have to be confident in ourselves and the play call."

That confidence axiom was evident for Brown's TD play.

"It was a nice route in man coverage," he said. "I knew if I got into the route, I could score."

The Wildcats have a rematch with St. Francis (Ind.) in the second round at Bethel and Reed says the familar foe will have lots to consider next week.

"Whoever we play next week, they'll have to set up 50-50," he said. "Hopefully they won't be ready for it."