Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn.- The Royals took care of business racking up 495 yards of total offense including 330 yards on the ground as they defeated Augsburg 48-21 Saturday afternoon.
Bethel scored fast and furious capitalizing on their first five possessions of the game. Bethel defensive back Brandon Carr intercepted a pass on the first play of the game and 12 plays, 60 yards later it was 7-0 Bethel, when quarterback Ben Wetzell took it in from 15 yards out.
The Royals wasted little time on their next possession, this time driving 49-yards on 5 plays, resulting in a 1 yard touchdown run by defensive tackle Zach Danielson who had entered the game as a running back. Defensive players continued to make their impact felt on the scoreboard as Brandon Carr intercepted his second pass of the quarter, this time returning it 45-yards for a touchdown making the score 21-0.
Bethel continued to build their led early in the second when three-time MIAC Defensive Player of the Week, Kirby Carr threw a 52-yard scoring strike to last weeks Offensive Player of the week Kyle Lee giving the Royals a 28-0 advantage. The scoring wouldn't stop there, as Wetzell connected with Phil Porta for a 31-yard score after a 7-play 74 yard drive making it a 35-0 game at the half.
On the opening drive of the second half it was much of the same as Bethel drove 70 yards on 9-plays with backup quarterback Dan Einerson finding Lee in the back of the endzone for his second score of the day.
With the game in hand, Bethel turned to their reserves and finished their scoring when junior running back Jared Bangs scampered from 34 yards out to make it a 48-0 game.
Augsburg, who closed a significant deficit last week against Gustavus, put up 21 points in the fourth quarter but it was too little too late.
Bethel was led by Phil Porta who finished the afternoon with 181 yards on 24 carries while also catching two passes for 38 yards and a score. Wetzell ended the day 4-8 for 68 yards passing and a score and also rushed 10 times for 57 yards and a score. Lee for the second week in a row grabbed two touchdowns receptions on 68 yards receiving.
Defensively, the Royals were led by the Carr brothers. Kirby finished with five tackles including one TFL and a forced fumble while Brandon had four tackles, four pass break-ups, and two interceptions, one for a touchdown. Cornerback Ryan Herm also had a nice afternoon finishing with six tackles and one pass break-up.
For the Auggies, quarterback Jordan Berg completed 16 of 31 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Tight end Andrew Neumann caught eight balls for 79 yards while Ricky Schreier led all receivers with seven catches for 82 yards and one score.
Brandon Rudenick, Pat Hoban, Brady Seesz and Mike Matson led the Augsburg defense, as Rudenick and Hoban each finished with 8 tackles and Seesz and Matson finished with 7 tackles a piece.
Bethel now improves to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the MIAC as the stage is set for a showdown in Collegeville next weekend with the Johnnies from Saint John's. The winner of that game will earn the MIAC title and an automatic bid to the Division III playoffs. Gametime is set for 1 p.m.
The Auggies fall to 0-9 overall, 0-7 in the league and will finish the season at the Metrodome Thursday night when they face Hamline at 7 p.m.
