ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University football team treated its homecoming crowd to an exhilarating 41-7 victory over Hamline University Saturday. The Royals built a 34-7 margin at the half and their defense stifled the Pipers for the final 30 minutes of play. With the win, BU improved to 4-2 on the season with a 3-1 record against MIAC opponents.
 
Bethel's defense set the tone throughout the entire game. Not only did they limit the Pipers to 280 yards of total offense, but they also provided the offense with great field position. The Royals, meanwhile, tallied 331 yards of total offense, including 157 on the ground.
 
BU's second drive, which started at their 46-yard-line, resulted in a four-yard touchdown by Marshall Klitzke. The Royals scored soon after, as Jesse Moeckly intercepted a Luke Lindquist pass and ran it back to the Piper 2-yard-line. Trey Anderson scored his fourth rushing TD of the season to give Bethel a 14-0 advantage with 1:16 remaining in the first frame.
  
After the Royals forced Hamline to turn the ball over on downs in the next possession, BU needed just two plays to increase their lead to 20. Charles Johnson hauled in his second touchdown of the season, when Trey Anderson hit him in stride for a 57-yard score.
 
Jordan Bardwell then gave Bethel another jolt when blocking the Piper's punt on the next possession. BU's Mitch Dorhout picked it up and returned it to the Hamline 17. Marshall Klitzke then ran in his second touchdown of the day three plays later.
 
Another quick 3-and-out handed the ball back to the Royals, which allowed Bridgeport Tusler to find the end zone for the first time of the day. Tusler took the fourth play of the drive 37 yards on the ground for a BU touchdown.
 
 
Just when it looked like the Royals were going to score again before the half, Hamline's Anthony Hill intercepted Trey Anderson—Anderson's first pick of the season—and ran it back to the Bethel 26-yard-line. Piper QB Luke Lindquist then threw a 26-yard touchdown on the very next play.
 
BU scored once more on another Kliztke carry from one-yard out that pushed the Royals' lead to 41-7 with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter. Klitzke's score capped off a five-play, 77-yard drive that included a 43-yard catch by Jackson Canfield that was brought down at the HU 1-yard-line.
 
Marshall Klitzke finished the game with 51 yards and three touchdowns, but it was Bridgeport Tusler that led all rushers on the day with 63 yards. That's quite a statement considering Hamline's lead rusher, Austin Duncan, averages over 85 yards per game this season and has nearly 4,000 career rushing yards.
 
Quarterback Trey Anderson rushed for 60 yards and threw for 158, including his 57-yard throw to Charles Johnson and 43-yard strike to Jackson Canfield. Johnson, Canfield, and tight end Drew Neuville each had three catches.
  

Ryan Kopca led Bethel's defense in tackles with 11, but it was Jesse Moeckly that made the biggest impact. Moeckly not only tallied his first interception of the season, but he also wrapped up three tackles for loss—including a sack for a loss of eight yards. He also had two QB hurries. His counterpart at the other outside linebacker position, Philip Peterson, also had three tackles, one for loss, and four hurries. 
 
Peterson's punting was just as good as his defense. He booted six punts for 224 yards, including two inside the 20-yard-line. His special teams comrade Andrew O'Reilly was equally good, as he kicked off seven times for 429 yards and three touchbacks—averaging 61.0 yards per kick.
 
Following Saturday's homecoming victory, Bethel will enjoy a much-needed bye week before facing off against St. Thomas in St. Paul on October 24. The Tommies remain unbeaten after five games played.