Box Score

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Bethel Royals kicked off their 2008 season today against the Concordia-Wisconsin Falcons and defeated them soundly at Royal Stadium by a score of 38-10. The 28 point victory margin for the Royals is the same as the last time the two teams met, which was the first round of the NCAA playoffs last season.

Bethel struck early and often as they built up a 31-0 lead going into halftime. The Royals got on the scoreboard after the defense forced the Falcons to go three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. D3football.com Preseason All-American Second Team member Tim Cornish (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) returned the punt to the Falcons 39-yard line. From that point, it only took Bethel three plays and 47 seconds to score a touchdown, as new quarterback Reid Velo (Jr., Nashwauk, Minn.) hit wide receiver Aaron Bernstetter (Sr., Holdingford, Minn.) from 37-yards out for his first of three touchdowns on the day.

After the defense forced Concordia-Wisconsin to turn the ball over on downs, the Royals struck again, as Velo capped off an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run to put Bethel up 14-0.

Early in the second quarter, Velo found a different target in Joel Quick (Jr., Johnston, Iowa) for a 21-yard touchdown pass to extend the Royals lead. The touchdown was set up by two long gains by last season's MIAC rushing leader, Logan Flannery (So., Lakeville, Minn.). The All-MIAC running back had rushes of 19 and 25 yards that allowed the Royals to march 73 yards down the field in seven plays.

On the ensuing Falcon drive, Concordia-Wisconsin made it as far as their own 38-yard line before being forced to punt. Punter Tom Roberts had a booming 60-yarder that made it all the way down to the Royals 2-yard line before being downed. With backs against the end zone, Velo found Bernstetter on a quick pass, and the receiver took care of the rest, scampering 98-yards for a touchdown on the first play of scrimmage to put the Royals up 28-0.

Bethel tacked on a 23-yard T.J. Kloeztke (Fr., Coon Rapids, Minn.) field goal at the end of their next possession to make the score 31-0, which is where it stayed until halftime. Kloeztke was a perfect 5-for-5 on point after attempts as well.

The Royals got their fifth and final touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, needing just five plays to go 75 yards. The tandem of Velo to Bernstetter worked again, this time from 19-yards out. Once again, Flannery helped set up the touchdown with rushes of 20 and 28 yards earlier in the drive. Flannery finished the day with 132 yards on 11 carries - an average of 12 yards every time he touched the ball.

Concordia-Wisconsin didn't get on the scoreboard until late in the third quarter when Dan Winsey kicked a 44-yard field goal to make the score 38-3. Then, with less than 5:30 remaining in the game, Kasiem Duran scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run to make it 38-10 with the point after.

Defensively, the Royals limited the Falcons to just 203 total yards and only 69 through the air, forcing the Falcons to turn the ball over on downs twice. Defensive end Aaron Mills (Sr., Traverse City, Mich.) had seven tackles, four of them for losses totaling 22 yards, while David Benjamin (Jr., Roseville, Minn.) had nine tackles and an interception.

The Royals begin their season at 1-0 and will travel down to Wheaton to take on the nationally ranked Thunder next Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.