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ST. PAUL—The Bethel University football team unleashed its offense on Saturday afternoon against Hamline University, as the Royals rolled up nearly 600 yards en route to a 38-14 victory over the Pipers. BU's offensive explosion at Klas Field contained 331 yards rushing and 263 more through the air. The road win proved to be Bethel's 13th consecutive against an MIAC opponent and also head coach Steve Johnson's 189th career conquest, helping him move into fourth among active Division III coaches in all-time wins.
 
The Royals went ahead 28-7 at the midway mark after scoring a touchdown in their first four of five drives. Bryce Marquardt took after his brother Brandon Marquardt in Bethel's first touchdown, as Bryce scampered eight yards at the end of the opening drive that went for 10 plays and 78 yards to help BU go ahead 7-0. The Pipers tallied the equalizer in the next possession, but that would be the closest these two teams would be throughout the remainder of the game.
 
Bethel went 11 plays and 66 yards in their second possession and went ahead 14-7 after a four-yard touchdown carry by Bridgeport Tusler. The Royals' defense then came up with a big fourth-down stop on 4th-and-1 at the BU 10-yard-line that gave Bethel the ball back. The Royals were forced to punt on the drive, but a critical forced fumble and recovery by Josh Werness gave Bethel the ball back at the Hamline 47. BU then went ahead by a pair of touchdowns thanks to Tusler's second TD carry of the day.
 
After Hamline was forced to punt for their second time of the game, Bethel's offense went for the dagger with 4:42 left in the second quarter. Quarterback Erik Peterson hit Bryce Marquardt for a 77-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive to put Bethel ahead 28-7.
 
Nathaniel Van Loon added to Bethel's lead with a 29-yard field goal in the Royals first possession in the second half. The Pipers then scored their second and final TD of the day on an Austin Duncan rush for 11 yards, narrowing BU's lead to 31-14. Following a Philip Peterson interception in the fourth quarter, Bridgeport Tusler and the Royals then put the cap on all scores with an 8-yard score in the fourth quarter.
 
Tusler's three-touchdown day highlighted the Royals 331 yards rushing and 7.4 yards per carry. Marshall Klitzke led all backs with 134 yards, while Tusler finished with 124. Erik Peterson converted 19-of-28 passes for 263 yards and on touchdown. Peterson targeted seven different receivers, including Bryce Marquardt, who caught five passes for 108 yards and the lone receiving TD. Tusler also caught three passes for 55 yards.
 
Bethel's defense held Hamline backs to 128 yards, after the Pipers came in averaging 207 rushing yards per game. Austin Duncan finished with 121 yards on 26 carries. David Morgan led the Royals defense with 10 tackles and two breakups. Josh Treimer recorded six tackles, including one for loss, and two pass deflections as well. As a unit, BU had four tackles for a loss of six yards.
 
Looking ahead, Bethel will play its final nonconference game of the season this Saturday, October 18, when the Royals welcome the University of Chicago to Arden Hills. The highly anticipated battle against the Maroons, who are 5-0 on the season, is scheduled for 1 p.m.