Heading into Saturday's game against the Kouvola Indians, the bears expected a much tougher game than the first time the teams met.  Since the bears 36-7 win in Kouvola on June 3rd, the indians have changed head coaches and signed another import.  Coach Jarmo Rautiainen took over the head coaching duties for the indians two weeks ago after American Coach Paul Allen returned to the states.  LB Ryan "Whiteboy" Robbins from Howard Payne University has also joined the indians.  With a brand new offense and much more experience in the 1st division, the indians were able to play the bears very close for a half before Coach Teemu Niemela's team pulled away for a 36-17 victory and atleast a share of the regular season title with a perfect 7-0 record.  . 

1st Half
The bears won the toss and elected to receive.  Matias Niekka caught the opening kickoff at the 10-yard line and returned it to the 31-yard line before being pushed out of bounds.  On the first play from scrimmage, Bedwell found a streaking Ville Penttila down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown toss.  Bedwell hit Tony Sandhu on the two-point conversion pass and the bears were on top 8-0 just seconds into the game. 



The indians first offensive drive stalled after six plays and 15-yards and Aku Kuhlman punted a beautiful 50-yarder that stopped at the bears 2-yard line.  On first down, Obi Ikejiani rushed for 7-yards out to the bears 9, but Markus Kivero lost the ball on 2nd down and the indians took over on the bears 8.  A personal foul against the visiting team moved the ball back to the 23-yard line.  The indians were able to move the ball to the 12-yard line before QB Lari Siitonen's 4th down pass went incomplete. 

On the first play of the new drive, Bedwell rolled right and found Sandhu for a 17-yard pickup out to the bears 29.  A short run by Kivero and a 10-yard completion from Bedwell-to-Penttila moved the ball to the 41.  Kivero moved the ball across midfield with an 18-yard pickup on the following play.  The veteran runningback picked up five yards combined on the following two carries and two incompletions by Bedwell stalled the bears drive at the indians 36.  Behind the running of Joonas Nikula, the indians were able to move the ball all the way down to the bears 3-yard line before settling for a 17-yard field goal by Kuhlman to cut the bears lead to 8-3. 

The bears kept up their trend of striking immediately after the opposition, as Penttila ran 59 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the drive.  The two-point conversion try was no good, however, and the bears lead stood at 14-3.  The indians took no time to answer as they went 55-yards on eight plays behind the passing of Siitonen and a 15-yard run by Nikula.  Kouvola reached paydirt when Siitonen's pass was tipped by a bears defender into the hands of FB Antti Pakkanen.  Kuhlman's kick was good and the score was 14-10.



The bears went three-and-out on their following drive and a short punt gave the indians excellent field position at their own 42.  The bear defense was able to stiffen up and force the indians to a three-and-out as well.  Niekka returned Kuhlman's punt 18-yards to give the bears the ball at their own 38 with just 1:30 remaining in the half.  On the first play of the drive, Bedwell found Penttila down the middle for a 32-yard pickup.  On the next play, he hit Teemu Jokinen for a 31-yard touchdown with just over a minute remaining.  Kivero ran for the two-point conversion and the bears lead increased to 22-10. 

After a great return by indians WR Matt Epperson (Hardin-Simmons), Siitonen completed a few passes and the indians took advantage of a roughing the passer and pass interference by the bears to get them down to a 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line with five seconds remaining on the clock.  The indians pitched to Nikula, who faked a reverse and tried to reach the right corner of the endzone.  A host of bears were there, however, as they stopped him just inches short of the goal line as time expired in the first half. 

2nd Half
The indians took the ball in the 2nd half, but went a quick three-and-out.  The bears did no better on their first possession as a fumbled snap was recoved by Pakkanen at the bears 49.  The bears defense was strong again, as they forced another three-and-out and then the offense went to work from their own 9-yard line.  Bedwell went deep to Sandhu on the first play but his pass was just out of the young WR's reach.  On 2nd down, Ikejiani rumbled for 29 yards out to the 38-yard line.  Bedwell went back to Sandhu on the next play and this time it worked to perfection, a 62-yard touchdown.  Bedwell's two-point conversion pass to Penttila gave Pori a 30-10 lead.  The indians quickly answered behind the passing of Siitonen, as they marched 51-yards in six plays.  Siitonen hit Epperson on a slant from the 15-yard line and the import earned his paycheck as he broke several tackles before finally reaching the endzone.  Kuhlman's kick made the score 30-17.



Kuhlman's ensuing kickoff went out of the back of the endzone and the bears started at their own 20.  Kivero picked up 17-and-5 on consecutive carries to move the bears out towards midfield.  Ikejiani picked up 37-yards on the following play and a personal foul on the indians put the bears on the 10-yard line.  Kivero picked up 6 on first down and Bedwell scored from four yards out on the following play to increase the bears lead to nineteen points.  The two-point try was no good. 

Both teams traded short, unsuccessful drives following the bears score.  The indians were able to move the ball well on their final drive of the game, but it was halted when Niekka picked off Siitonen's pass at the 5-yard line.  Bedwell took a knee shortly after and the rest was history. 

The bears were able to rack up 429 yards of total offense while holding the indians to 240 total yards.  Bedwell completed 6-of-13 for 221 yards with 3 TD/0 INT.  He also ran for a score.  Penttila led the bears in receiving with 3 grabs for 111 yards and a touchdown, he also scored six on a 59-yard reverse.  Sandhu and Jokinen added the other touchdown catches.  Ikejiani led the bears in rushing with 4 carries for 74 yards.  Kivero added 66 yards on 12 carries.  For the indians, Siitonen completed 17-of-32 for 141 yards with 2 TD/1 INT.  Nikula had 22 carries for 99 yards, and Epperson caught 7 balls for 61 yards and a TD. 

The bears defense was once again led by Jarno Rosnell, who picked up 3 solo tackles and 7 assists.  Kauraoja had 4 solos, 3 assists.  Marko Latva-Kokko and Timo Vilja also did a great job containing the indians running game.  The secondary did an excellent job keeping the indians passing game in check.  Niekka, Akseli Fonsen, and Tuomas Harmalainen are just a few players that are to be commended for their excellent pass defense.  Robbins led the indians with four solo tackles.