NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Bethel University football team made a big statement Saturday afternoon with a 35-7 victory over previously unbeaten St. Olaf College in Northfield. The Royals took their first play from scrimmage to the house and then finished things off in the fourth quarter with the third pick-six of the season for senior safety Dawson Brown. The Bethel defense limited St. Olaf to just 73 yards through the air on 8-28 passing with two interceptions while racking up 424 yards of total offense themselves.

After forcing a quick three-and-out on the opening series for St. Olaf, the Bethel offense benefited from a short punt and a 15-yard penalty aginst the Oles to take over on their own 37-yard line. Sam Gibbas took a handoff and raced 37-yards straight up the middle for a touchdown to put the Royals ahead 7-0 after the Blake Hottle extra point. The Royals defense was dominant throughout the first quarter in particular, forcing the Oles to punt on their first four possessions, gaining just one first down. Meanwhile the offense was picking up yardage in chunks. After a seven play, 54-yard drive on the Royals second possession ended in a fumble, the Royals converted their next two drives into touchdowns. Quarterback Jaran Roste scored the first touchdown on a one yard plunge while Gideon Erhabor scored the other from five yards out. Much of the yardage on the first two drives came from the connection of Roste to junior wideout Drew Larsen. The duo hooked up four times for 88 yards during those drives. On the third drive it was a 45-yard run by Roste that set the Royals up inside the Oles 10-yard line with Erhabor finishing in the endzone.
 
Up 21-0 the Royals were cruising, but the Oles found some momentum on offense and were able to put a pair of good drives together. The first ended on downs after nine plays and 46 yards but the second ended with the Oles lone touchdown of the game after 11 plays and 55 yards. St. Olaf continued to build on the momentum with stopping the Royals immediately on their next drive and the Oles picked up 14-yards on their first play to get down to the Bethel 39-yard line. After a pass completion Drew Ragsdale stripped the St. Olaf receiver and Tavian Swanson recovered to slow things down for the Oles and Bethel went into the half with a 21-7 lead.
The second half saw the Oles attempt to get back into the game again but were just unable to get over the hump. St. Olaf blocked a pair of Bethel field goal attempts on the Royals first two drives but a Cale Ferrin interception slowed the Oles momentum. To start the fourth quarter Bethel forced a three-and-out, then Roste gave Bethel all the breathing room they needed with a 57-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-7. Dawson Brown put an exclamation point on the game with an interception on the St. Olaf 10-yard line, cutting under an out route near the sideline and racing into the endzone with just 3:27 remaining for the 35-7 final.
 


Roste put together his third game in the last four with over 100 yards passing and rushing. He finished 11-19 through the air for 183 yards and one interception to go along with 18 carries and 153 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Drew Larson was the Royals leading receiver with five catches for 122 yards and Joel Koenecke had four for 33 yards. John Carlson came up with a big grab in the fourth quarter, making a leaping catch over an Oles defender for 21 yards. Sam Gibas ran for 70 yards on 14 carries. Brady Bomsta made his return to the field and carried the ball three times for six yards as the Royals totaled 241 on the ground.

Defensively Drew Ragsdale was the Royals leading tackler with 10 to go along with two tackles for loss and a sack. Dawson Brown put together his typical all-around game with five tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and the interception returned for a touchdown.

Next up for Bethel (5-1, 3-1) will be another big game against a team coming off of their bye weekend in the Concordia College Cobbers (3-3, 2-2). The Cobbers will come to Royal Stadium on October 20^th for a 1 p.m. kickoff.