COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Bethel University's football team took their momentum from last Saturday's 64-7 victory over St. Olaf up to Collegeville for a Saturday afternoon showdown against Saint John's University. That momentum helped the Royals (1-4, 1-2 MIAC) keep the No. 9-ranked Johnnies (4-1, 2-1 MIAC) in check, but two missed opportunities inside the red zone prohibited BU from upsetting SJU. As a result, Saint John's outlasted Bethel 21-13.
 
Bethel's defense forced SJU to punt on their opening drive and the offense then proceeded to drive the ball inside the Johnnie 12-yard line. An intercepted pass in the end zone handed the ball back to Saint John's without any points, however. The Johnnies went 10 plays and 80 yards on the ensuing possession for the first touchdown of the game.
 
BU was forced to punt on their next possession and the Johnnies were fortunate to land on a fumbled punt return at the SJU 5-yard-line. Their fortune continued when Jackson Erdmann hit Evan Clark in stride and Clark went 86 yards for a Saint John's touchdown.
 
 
Trailing 14-0, Bethel put together an 18-play, 78-yard drive that lasted 8:19, but despite getting 1st-and-goal from the SJU 1-yard-line, the Royals were unable to finish the drive with points.
 
Remaining unfazed, BU started the second half with an 11-play, 79-yard drive that resulted in a 31-yard touchdown run by Gideon Erhabor that trimmed the gap to seven points. The Royals held the Johnnies scoreless in their next possession as did SJU Bethel on their next possession. But a 58-yard punt return set up Saint John's third and final score of the day with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Royals scored their second rushing touchdown of the day with 9:10 remaining in the fourth quarter when Sam Gibas punched the ball across the goal line from two yards out. Gibas's touchdown was set up by a 44-yard pass from Jake Marsh to Bryce Marquardt.
 
Bethel's defense got a critical interception by Cale Ferrin at the BU 22-yard-line with 3:25 remaining in the game, but the Royals were unable to put points on the board in their drive.
 
BU tallied 18 first downs, opposed to SJU's 11. The Royals rushed for 142 yards on the ground—the second most this season behind last week's 220 performance against St. Olaf—opposed to the Johnnies, who carried the ball 31 times for 87 yards (2.8 yards per carry). Bethel punted five times, opposed to Saint John's, who punted six times, and BU had the ball 1:16 longer than SJU did.
 
Sam Gibas ran the ball 27 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Gideon Erhabor posted 10 carries for 61 yards and one score.
 
Jake Marsh finished 14-of-27 for 140 yards and one interception. Marsh connected with five different receivers, including Bryce Marquardt who caught six passes for 77 yards, and Drew Larsen, who hauled in five passes for 28 yards.
 
Drew Ragsdale led Bethel's defense with 10 tackles, including one half tackle for loss. Dawson Brown finished with seven tackles and Brett Norling tallied six with one pass break up. Kyle Kilgore also recorded six tackles, including two tackles for a loss of 16 yards and one sack for a loss of nine yards.
 
Blake Hottle punted the ball five times for 209 yards, averaging 41.8 yards per punt, with two inside the 20-yard-line.
 
Bethel's next contest is Saturday, October 7, when they play host to Carleton College on homecoming. The matchup between the Royals and Knights is scheduled for 1 p.m.