ST. PAUL—Bethel University's football team closed out the 2016 season with a 17-14 victory over Hamline University on a sunny, but windy mid-November afternoon. The Royals (5-5, 5-3 MIAC) held a lead throughout nearly the entire game, but needed a game-winning 31-yard field goal from Blake Hottle with 2:30 remaining in the contest to edge the Pipers (5-5, 3-5 MIAC) down the stretch. With the win BU finished the conference schedule 5-3, which places them alone in fourth place. Moreover, the Royals made it 23 consecutive seasons with a winning record—both overall and in MIAC play—which stands as the longest streak among all league opponents.
 
Crazy as it is, Bethel's last contest that finished in a game-winning field goal was on October 17, 2009, when Matt Wetherell hit a 40-yard field goal with time expiring to give the Royals a 20-17 victory over the Pipers. It doesn't stop there though. Wetherell hit a 30-yarder with no time left on the clock in 2008 to give BU a 9-7 victory over Hamline. Hottle's game-winner Saturday gave Bethel their 21st consecutive win over the Pipers.
   
The Royals made noise early, as they recovered a bad snap on Hamline's first play and then scored four plays later when Jake Marsh rushed into the end zone on a one-yard keeper.
 
A failed two-point conversion kept the score at 6-0 in favor of BU before the Pipers went ahead 7-6 with 9:04 remaining in the second quarter. Bethel responded later in the frame with a seven-play, 65-yard possession that resulted in an eight-yard touchdown throw from Jake Marsh to Gunnar Bloom. Marsh found Drew Neuville on the two-point conversion to put the Royals up for good 14-7 right before the half.
 
Neither team managed to put up points in the first 27 minutes of the second half, despite the Royals being inside Hamline's 35-yard-line four times. But Bethel was able to convert a much-needed field goal attempt from 31 yards out with 2:30 left in the game. That proved to be pivotal, as the Pipers put together a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that made the score 17-14 with 0:39 left on the clock. BU's Logan Lisle was able to land on a dangerous onside kick attempt, however, which sealed the game for the Royals.
 
Bethel's defense, led by Cale Ferrin and a host of defensive lineman held Hamline's high-power offense at bay. Ferrin, who was asked to play a major roll due to a targeting call, finished with a pair of interceptions and four tackles. BU's defensive line, comprised of Steven Plocker, Cameron Svihla, Godfrey Mpetey, and Cameron Monson, combined for 4.5 sacks totaling 26 yards lost. A trio of linebackers—Andrew Ragsdale, Dawson Brown, and Josh Dalki—also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, including 2.0 sacks for 13 yards.
 
Freshman quarterback Jake Marsh completed 11-of-25 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown. He also ran nine times for 50 yards and punted three times for 107 yards—putting all three punts inside the 10-yard-line.
 
Marsh found five targets, including Gunnar Bloom, who caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Drew Neuville, who hauled in three passes for 51 yards.
 
Bloom led the Royals on the ground, as the sophomore carried the ball 27 times for 111 yards.  
 
Bethel says goodbye and thank you to 21 seniors following Saturday's game. Throughout their career, this group of men saw BU go 29-14 with one MIAC championship and one NCAA Tournament appearance.