ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University's football team has been more successful than any other program across the conference when facing Saint John's over the last 10 years. No stat is more telling than the fact that BU has won seven of the past nine matchups entering today's game and has never lost to SJU at home since 2005. But the Royals' track record against the Johnnies was not enough today, as Saint John's topped Bethel at home 21-0. 
 
After the Johnnies forced BU to punt on the opening drive of the game, they took a 7-0 lead when SJU quarterback Nick Martin found Josh Bungum in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard strike.
 
Saint John's forced Bethel into a 3-and-out and threatened to score again, but the Royals forced the Johnnies into a fumble at the BU 16-yard-line. Bethel was unable to capitalize on the turnover, though, and to make matters worse SJU blocked Phil Peterson's punt and recovered the ball at the same yard-line they fumbled from.
  
The Johnnies needed five plays to score from there and it was Nick Martin that scored his second touchdown of the day—this time rushing in from five yards out.
 
The Royals looked as if they were going to have great field position on the ensuing kickoff, but the line judge said that Bethel's return man caught the kickoff with his knee touching the ground at the 12-yard line. That proved to be a critical moment, as Bethel was forced to punt then from their own 16, which handed the ball to Saint John's at their own 44.
 
Nick Martin then scored his third touchdown of the day when he hit wide out Nick Simon for a 31-yard touchdown with 10:25 left in the second quarter. Despite trailing 21-0, BU's squad still believed they could come back and win. But Bethel suffered its biggest blow of the game in their next offensive possession when Trey Anderson was taken out of the game because of an injury.
 
The Royals were driving at the time and were inside the SJU 40. Unfortunately for BU, they were unable to convert on fourth down and were held scoreless throughout the remainder of the game. Bethel's defense went toe-to-toe with the Johnnies for the final 40 minutes as well, shutting out Saint John's until the final horn.
 
The Royals held SJU to 282 yards of total offense and just rushing yards. Coming into the game, Saint John's averaged 416 total yards and 218 rushing yards. The Johnnies' Sam Sura, who is on pace to break the SJU career rushing record and averages 146.6 yards per game, was held to 102 yards on 36 carries (2.8 yards per carry). Coming into the game Sura averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
 
Phil Peterson recorded 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack. Godfrey Mpetey also posted double-digit tackles with 10 on the day. Landon Mathis and Nathan Hultgren wrapped up nine and eight tackles, respectively.
 
Marshall Klitzke finished with 59 yards on 17 carries, while Andrew Dzurik was 9-of-25 for 92 yards and three interceptions. Gunnar Bloom led all Bethel receivers with four catches for 33 yards, while Jackson Canfield and Drew Neuville each caught three passes.
 
The Royals closeout their season next Saturday at Edor Nelson Field, where they'll take on Augsburg College at 1 p.m.  The two teams combined for 123 points in last season's meeting.