Box Score

ST. PETER, Minn. - Without their starting quarterback for the second game in a row, the Bethel offense was still able to find their stride, scoring four offensive touchdowns and coasting to a 33-21 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College on the road.

With Josh Aakre (So., Dawson, Minn.) still recovering from an injury sustained against St. Olaf, the Royals went with Reid Velo (Sr., Nashwauk, Minn.) under center. Velo, starting quarterback for the first time since the Wheaton game last season, threw an interception in his first series but settled in to complete 12 of his 19 passes for 214 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown pass to Joel Quick (Sr., Johnston, Iowa) to start Bethel's scoring halfway through the second quarter.

Gustavus got out to a 7-0 lead 10 minutes into the game on a 43-yard touchdown run by Jordan Becker. Bethel's answer was not to come for another three possessions. After stopping the Gusties on downs inside the Bethel 30-yard line, the Royals needed just five plays to go 73-yards for the equalizing touchdown. The drive was highlighted by an 18-yard completion to Quick, and a 14-yard completion to Jay Hilbrands (Fr., Clara City, Minn.) on third-down. That set up Velo's 38-yard pass to Quick for the touchdown. Quick had seven receptions for 131 yards in the game.

Bethel tacked on another touchdown on its next possession, this time needing just four plays to march 70 yards for the score. Kevin Lindh (Fr., Houston, Minn.), the top yardage earner against Hamline, caught a 62-yard pass from Velo to put the Royals inside the Gustie 5-yard line. Two plays later, Dusty Wahl (Sr., Mahtomedi, Minn.) rushed for the first of his three touchdowns on the day.

The Gusties tied the game at 14 when they picked off Velo and ran the ball back for a touchdown. After a three-and-out series, Bethel nearly returned the interception favor when David Vavra (So., Cambridge, Minn.) nabbed a Jordan Becker pass and returned it 55-yards to the Gustie 3-yard line, setting up Wahl's second touchdown on the very next play.

The Royals forced yet another turnover on Gustavus' next possession when Billy Morgan (So., Rosemount, Minn.) forced a Gustie fumble allowing David Benjamin (Sr., Roseville, Minn.) to recover. Bethel then took six plays to go 29 yards as Wahl scored his third touchdown of the game, this time from 2-yards out. Logan Flannery (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) had a 17-yard carry down to the Gustavus 12-yard line on the first play from scrimmage to help Bethel get inside the red zone.

Although Wahl had three touchdowns, it was Flannery that did much of the grunt work for Bethel on the ground. The two-time All-MIAC running back had 102 yards on 29 carries as opposed to 12 yards on seven carries for Wahl.

With the score now 26-14, Bethel added an insurance touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Despite driving the ball down to the Gustavus 15-yard line, the Royals got backed up 22 yards on a negative rushing play and a 13-yard personal foul penalty, making it 4th down and 29 to go from the Gustie 37. Kevin Ness (Sr., Dassel, Minn.) punted the ball down to the Gustavus 1-yard line, and on the second play from scrimmage, Tim Cornish (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) nabbed his sixth interception of the season and second of the game, returning it 25 yards for a touchdown.

Gustavus responded with a six-play 61-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown to make the score 33-21 with 49-seconds remaining. The Royals took a knee to end the game after the ensuing kickoff, thus earning their fifth MIAC win of the season.

Defensively, the Royals were led by Morgan, Ross Petterson (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.), and Andrew Johnson (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) with six tackles each. However, Johnson had three tackles for losses totaling 16 yards, including a 10-yard sack. He also forced a fumble. Corey Svihla (Jr., Foley, Minn.) had two tackles for losses of 12 yards, including an 8-yard sack. Collectively, Bethel held Gustavus below their season average for yards, allowing just 101 rushing yards and 184 passing yards. The Gusties managed to earn just 10 first downs all game.

With the win, the Royals improve to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the MIAC heading into a big showdown with St. Thomas next Saturday at Royal Stadium beginning at 1 p.m. The Tommies beat up on Augsburg 42-3 today. Gustavus drops to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the conference.