Box Score | Video Highlights

NORTHFIELD, Minn.—It was a family day for the Marquardt brothers, as the two each scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bethel University football squad to help the Royals take down Carleton College on the road Saturday, 38-7. In addition to BU's offensive explosion, Bethel's defense was just as dominant—allowing the Knights 159 yards of total offense and one touchdown that didn't come until the final four minutes of the game. The Royals completed the package deal with incredible specials as well, concluding the conference matchup with one touchdown and over 230 return yards. 
 
Bethel's defense forced the Knights to go 3-and-out on their very first possession and BU was able to turn Carleton's punt into immediate points. The Royals first drive of the game resulted in a 30-yard field goal from Nathaniel Van Loon after BU was stopped on 3rd-and-9 from the Knights' 13.
 
Another punt for Carleton gave the pigskin back to the Royals, who turned a 14-play, 62-yard drive into six points thanks to a 3-yard rush by quarterback Erik Peterson.
 
Leading 10-0 with 9:15 left in the half, Bridgeport Tusler took a punt back 91 yards, but a fumble on the Carleton four-yard line gave the rock back to the Knights. Erik Peterson and Bryce Marquardt picked Tusler up after a Carleton punt, though, as the two played pass and catch for a 22-yard touchdown—putting the Royals up 17-0 with 2:53 remaining in the opening half.
 
A strip-sack for Will Van Duzer gave the ball back to Bethel and it was Brandon Marquardt's turn to find the end zone. Marquardt's seven-yard carry right before the half gave the Royals its second 20-plus point margin in the opening half in as many weeks. His touchdown also made it the third consecutive contest that both Brandon and Bryce have scored a touchdown.
 
The Marquardt brothers each scored again in the second half, including Brandon's 99-yard kickoff return to begin the third quarter. Two possessions later, after an absurd interception by cornerback Josh Treimer, Bryce hauled in a 32-yard pass from Erik Peterson to make it 38-0 with 5:59 left in the third quarter.
 
The Knights scored their only touchdown of the day late in the fourth quarter to make the final tally 38-7. In total, Carleton was held to just 49 yards rushing and 110 yards passing. The Royals, meanwhile, went for 371 yards of total offense on 212 yards rushing and 159 yards passing.
 
Brandon Marquardt led all backs with 96 yards rushing on 12 carries, averaging 8.0 yards per carry. Marshall Klitzke also tallied 13 carries for 63 yards.
 
Quarterback Erik Peterson finished the day 16-of-21 for 159 yards passing and two touchdowns passing along with one rushing. Peterson targeted six different receivers, including Bryce Marquart, who caught six passes for 87 yards.
 
Leading Bethel's stout defense at Laird Stadium Saturday was Landon Mathis, who finished with 10 total tackles. The Royals finished with two turnovers and five sacks, including Van Duzer's strip-sack, an eight-yard tackle for loss by Lee Tenenoff, a seven-yard sack by Godfrey Mpetey, and a five-yard wrap-up by Kyle Asmus.
 
With the win, Bethel not only improves to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in league play, but also keeps its 11-game win-streak against conference opponents in tact. The Royals will be tested this upcoming Saturday in their homecoming game against the unbeaten Cobbers of Concordia College. Kickoff between the two squads is set for 1 p.m. at Royal Stadium.