Box Score

ST. PAUL- Minn.- Bethel scored 21 points in the third quarter to break open a seven-point game en route to a 35-0 win over the Pipers Saturday afternoon at Klas Field.

The Royals (7-1, 5-1 in the MIAC) scored the first two times they touched the ball in the second half. They opened the quarter with a 13-play, 80-yard drive capped by Dustin Wahl's 2-yard scoring plunge with 8:55 left in the third quarter.

On the Pipers' first offensive play of the half, Royal linebacker Kirby Carr intercepted James Leary and went 52 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21-0.

Bethel quarterback Ben Wetzell added a 19-yard scoring run with 18 seconds left in the quarter for a 28-0 advantage.

Wetzell threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Lee on the Royals first drive of the game to make the score 7-0.

From there, the Pipers (3-5, 1-5) hung tough, forcing Royal turnovers on their next two possessions of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Pipers held the Royals on fourth-and-three from the Hamline 29, and stopped Wetzell on a quarterback sneak from the Hamline 1 as time expired in the first half.

Royal running back Phil Porta, who became the MIACs all-time leading rusher last week, ran for 124 yards on 26 carries. Wetzell ran for 67 yards on 16 carries. He also went 13-of-20 passing for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Kyle Lee caught four passes for 150 yards and both scores.

Leary rushed for 27 yards on seven carries. He was 4-of-11 passing for 15 yards. Backup Cohlman Rutschow was 7-of-11 passing for 63 yards. Running back Ben Ganske caught four passes for 13 yards.

Senior strong safety Tyler Schultz led the Piper defense with 15 tackles and a forced fumble. Senior Adam Hespen added nine tackles.

The Pipers will host St. Thomas next Saturday at Klas Field. Kick off is set for 1:00 p.m.