Box Score  | Game Highlights

ST. PETER, Minn. – Bethel upended Gustavus Adolphus College 41-21 on a foggy Saturday afternoon, thanks in large part to Erik Peterson (So., Orono, Minn.) and the BU offense, who completed 27-of-29 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. The Royals (6-1, 4-1 MIAC) managed 23 first downs and 452 total yards of offense, while limiting the Gusties (2-5, 1-4) to just 248 yards of total offense.
 
Bethel went ahead 28-7 going into the half, which proved to be a sizeable lead Gustavus would not be able to overcome. Derek Waldbillig (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) capped off BU's opening seven-play, 68-yard drive with a two-yard dive to give the Royals the early 7-0 lead. A later interception by Josh Treimer (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) handed the rock back to BU, which set up Peterson's first throwing TD of the day on a 19-yard toss to Hans Duininck (Sr., Tulsa, Okla.)—his first touchdown reception of the year.
 
Jesse Phenow (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) quickly capitalized on another BU scoring opportunity, when plunging in from three yards out to finish off another seven-play drive, spanning 59 yards. The Gusties put its first points on the board with just over five minutes to play in the half to make the score 21-7, however, Phenow would not be stopped at the goal line at the end of the half. Initially stopped on a 4th-and-1, Phenow kept charging and found the end zone with 13 seconds remaining to push Bethel to a 28-7 halftime advantage.
 
Despite the Royals wearing the road whites, things continued to get black and blue for the Gusties, as BU put two more scores on the board in the third quarter – giving Bethel a 41-7 lead with 1:36 left in the third quarter. Both scores came through the air, with Erik Peterson firing a 12-yard pass to Jay Hilbrands (Sr., Clara City, Minn.) and a 6-yard dump to Waldbillig. The Peterson-Hilbrands connection marked the fifth time this season the combo has put six on the board, while Waldbillig scored his eighth touchdown of the year.
 
Gustavus was able to make a couple drives connect to six in the fourth quarter, including a 17-play, eight-minute drive that cut the deficit to 41-14 and a crazy 16-yard scamper with just over three minutes remaining that saw Muresuk Mena come out of a pile of stood-up players at the Bethel 15-yard-line and into the GAC end zone, resulting in a 41-21 final.
 
Peterson's 27-of-29 sets a new Bethel record for completion percentage in a single game, as his 93.1 percent accuracy and 315 yards passing was easily the sophomore's most complete game in his career at BU. With his nearly flawless day, Peterson's season completion percentage of 68.1 is just behind St. Olaf's Dan Dobson's, who is at 68.3.

Of the 27 completions, it was Mitch Hallstrom (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.), who benefited most with 10 receptions for 107 yards. With his 10 receptions, Hallstrom now ranks No. 1 among all MIAC receivers in total receptions (41). Other receivers in the mix were Hilbrands and Duininck, who finished with five and four, respectively.
 
Jesse Phenow led the ground attack with 64 yards on 18 carries, leading to two touchdowns.
 
The Royals defense had a favorable day, holding Gustavus to seven points in the first 45 minutes. Jordan Anderson (Sr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) finished as the leading tackler with 10 wrapups, while Treimer and David Morgan (So., Rosemount, Minn.) each recorded an interception and a breakup. As a unit, Bethel held Gustavus to 64 yards passing, 184 yards rushing, and just 15 first downs.
 
Bethel returns home next Saturday to face Hamline University, after facing two opponents away from Royal Stadium in the last two weeks. The Pipers, who fell to St. Thomas 51-9 Saturday, will likely be BU's second to last home competition of the 2012 campaign.