Stan Bedwell threw for three touchdowns in the first quarter, all to Tony Sandhu, as the bears built a 21-7 lead and rolled the rest of the way on Saturday in Kouvola.  The touchdowns of 26, 47, and 93 yards helped push the bears record to a league-leading 2-0 on the season.  It was a different week, but the same story...Mother Nature reared her ugly head into another bears game, as it rained in Kouvola all day Saturday.  The bears were the favorite heading into this contest, but many were optimistic of the indians with their import head coach Paul Allen and WR Matt Epperson. 

1st Quarter
The indians won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.  The bears received the opening kickoff and Matias Niekka returned the kick 24-yards to the bears 44.  RB Markus Kivero took the ball across midfield for a gain of seven on the first play from scrimmage.  On 2nd and 3, he ran for 18 yards around the left end for another bears 1st down.  A third-consecutive carry by Kivero, this time for 5-yards, put the bears in a 2nd-and-5 position at the indians 26-yard line.  This time Bedwell faked the handoff to Kivero and found a wide-open Tony Sandhu streaking down the sideline for the first score of the day.  The kick by Niekka was good and the bears took an early 7-0 lead.  The indians would fight back on their first posession. 

After a short return by Epperson, indians RB Joonas Nikula carried the ball for 12-yards and a first down out to the indians 30-yard line.  QB Lari Siitonen completed two straight passes to push the indians across midfield.  On 3rd-and-8 from the bears 45, Siitonen hit Epperson on a curl route and the import made an electrifying run that ended when he crossed the goal line.  Aku Kuhlman's kick was good and the game was tied at 7-7.  The bears were quick to respond, however, as Niekka returned the kickoff to the bears 35-yard line.  From there, Kivero carried three times for a total of 18-yards to take the bears into indians territory.  On 2nd-and 4, Bedwell once again faked the handoff to Kivero and went deep to Sandhu.  A great catch over the indians defender put Sandhu in the endzone and put the bears on top 14-7.  The indians were unable to get anything started on their second possession of the day, as the bears held them to a three-and-out.  Kuhlman's punt went 51-yards and was downed at the bears 2 by Epperson. 

On 1st-and-10 from their own 2-yard line, the bears were able to draw the indians offside to give Bedwell a little breathing room.  He took advantage of this as he dropped back and hit Sandhu in stride deep downfield for their third touchdown connection of the quarter...this one for 93-yards!  Niekka's third extra point attempt was true and the bears earned some breathing room with a 14-point lead.  After holding the indians to another three-and-out, the bears offense went to work again, this time on the ground. 

2nd Quarter
Starting from their own 31-yard line, the bears were able to drive all the way down to the indians goal line, highlighted by a 45-yard run by Kivero.  On 4th-and-goal from the indians 2-yard line, Bedwell carried the ball up the middle for a score but it was called back as the bears were penalized for assisting the runner.  On 4th-and-goal from the 7, Bedwell's pass was just out of Kivero's reach and the bears turned the ball over to the indians.  The indians were only able to advance 14-yards to the bear 21-yard line before they had to punt it away again.  With four minutes remaining in the half, the bears methodically moved the ball downfield.  Starting at the indians 49, Kivero would carry twice to put the ball on the indians 31.  Backup RB Olli Rantala would take the next carry 19-yards to the indians 12.  Kivero appeared to score a touchdown on the following play, but a clipping penalty moved the bears back to the indians 22.  On the next two play, Bedwell found Penttila for nine yards and Kivero ran for nine yards to give the bears a 1st-and-goal at the indians 4-yard line.  Bedwell called Kivero's number and he followed the offensive line, who played exceptionally all day, into the endzone.  Kivero ran in the two-point conversion and the bears took a 29-7 lead with just seconds left in the half.  The indians received the kick and ran out the clock as both teams headed to the locker rooms. 

3rd Quarter
After receiving the kick, the indians started at their own 34-yard line.  On the first play of the half, Siitonen hit Epperson on a slan and he carried it 48-yards to get into the bears redzone.  Two plays later, Nikula fumbled the ball and the bears recovered at their own 10.  The bears first offensive play of the half was just as impressive, as Bedwell found Sandhu once again for a 51-yard gain to put the ball well into indian territory.  After a holding penalty backed the bears up to the indian 49, Bedwell found Penttila for a 19-yard gain back to the indian 30.  Two plays later, Penttila took a reverse 27-yards for the final score of the afternoon.  Both teams traded three-and-outs after this...the only highlight of the rest of the quarter was a 40-yard punt return by Epperson. 

4th Quarter
The bears held the indians to a three-and-out early in the 4th, then ran out the final ten minutes on a 14-play, 59-yard drive that ended with Bedwell kneeling the ball on consecutive downs inside the indians 30. 

The bears finished the day with 522 yards of total offense.  Bedwell, the game MVP, finished 8-of-17 for 256 yards with 3 TD/0 INT.  Kivero amassed 185 yards on 24 carries and picked up a score of his own.  Rantala added 48 yards on 11 carries.  Penttila ran the ball one time for 27 yards and a touchdown.  Sandhu led the receiving corp with 217 yards on four receptions with 3 TD's.  Penttila had three catches for 34 yards and Teemu Jokinen had one for 5, respectively.  The offense was propelled by great blocking by the big guys up front...Teemu Niemela, Manu Marjamaki, Pasi Karttunen, Juho Wiren, Juho Huttunen, Mika Paasi, and Ville Laiho.

The bears defense held the indians to 151 total yards...only 22 yards on the ground.  In two games, the bear defense has given up a total of 15 rushing yards.  The defense was led by LB's Kimmo Mattila and Jarno Rosnell.  Mattila had four solo tackles and Rosnell had 3 solos and 1 assist.  Defensive backs Niekka and Ville Kauraoja did an excellent job of keeping Epperson in check all day and deserve much praise. 

The bears will be in action again next Sunday, June 3 when they host the Helsinki 69ers.  The 69ers (1-0) defeated the Helsinki GS Demons Friday night by a score of 14-13.  Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Herralahti Stadium.  The indians will travel to Kuopio next Saturday to face the Steelers.

Game Stats

5/27/07