MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Bethel University football team shutout the Concordia College Cobbers by a 31-0 score in Moorhead, Minnesota. The Royals defense forced four turnovers, registered three sacks, and seven tackles for loss in stifling the Cobber offense. Bethel ran up 463 yards of total offense, 300 through the air as quarterback Jaran Roste set a new career high in passing yards.
 


The first half saw the Royals build a 21-0 lead, alternating on their possessions between scoring a touchdown and punting, along with one fumble, while the Cobbers punted on every possession until throwing an interception on their final first half drive. After stopping the Cobbers opening drive the Royals offense started quickly. On Bethel's first play Roste hit running back Sid Boros on a swing pass and the speedster juked a defender and raced down the sideline for a 58 yard gain down to the Cobber 27 yard line. From there the Bethel offense pounded their way into the end zone, needing 10 plays, none gaining more than six yards to cover the final 27 yards. Roste scored on a QB sneak, extending the ball over the goal line from one yard out. Bjorn Charles converted the PAT for the 7-0 lead.
 
The Cobbers went three and out on their next possession and sophomore punt returner Nic Jones returned the Cobbers punt 90 yards for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to an illegal block in the back, negating the touchdown and pinning Bethel at its own five yard line. The drive started promising for Bethel with a 19-yard swing pass to Sam Gibas and a 12-yard run by Roste, but a pair of short runs were followed by a third down pass that was completed out of bounds and the Royals were forced to punt. Concordia went three and out again and Bethel began another touchdown drive. Four straight completions for a total of 25 yards started the drive before Bethel went to the ground attack. Consecutive runs by Roste for a total of 12 yards were followed by a Gibas six yard run. Roste then pitched to Boros on an option, with Boros making a one handed snag of the pitch, and proceded to break multiple tackles in squirting through the Cobbers defense and into the endzone from 12 yards out and a 14-0 lead.
 
The Bethel defense quickly forced another three and out from Concordia and once again Bethel looked to threaten when Roste found John Carlson deep down the field. Carlson made a great adjustment on the deep pass and looked to get into the end zone, attempting to reach the ball out over the goal line but in doing so lost control of the ball and the Cobbers recovered on the one yard line. Concordia was able to generate one first down on a 23-yard pass completion before stalling again and being forced to punt. Nic Jones returned the punt 17 yards, setting Bethel up just shy of midfield. Roste found Boros for an 11 yard gain to kick start the drive, then found Drew Larsen for 23 yards. Sam Gibas completed things with an 11 yard TD catch with just 1:05 remaining in the half and a 21-0 lead. The Cobbers efforts to get down the field with their remaining time were stopped when defensive back Emmanuel Blackshear picked off a Cobber pass and returned it 26 yards with just three seconds remaining in the half.      
 
Bethel was only able to gain one first down on their first two second half drives but the Cobbers found the same result in their possessions before Bethel went on another scoring drive. After a punt that was downed at their own five yard line, the Royals needed just six plays to cover the 95 yards. The big play of the drive was a 48-yard completion to Drew Larsen. Jon Pytlak had a 15-yard reception and Sid Boros carried the ball twice for a total of 26 yards, putting Bethel down at the one yard line where Mike Delich carried it in. Bjorn Charles PAT was good again and Bethel owned a 28-0 lead with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Cobbers would threaten on their next possession for the first time all day when quarterback Blake Kragnes found a crease in the Bethel defense and broke loose for a 43-yard run down to the Bethel 15-yard line. On the next play however, cornerback Tavian Swanson used his great positioning to intercept Kragnes' pass into the endzone and end the Cobbers threat. After eight plays and 71 yards the Royals ensuing drive stalled, turning the ball over on downs at the Concordia nine yard line. The Cobbers would fumble a snap on their second play, giving Bethel the ball right back. BU was unable to gain a first down but Charles was able to connect on a 27-yard field goal for the 31-0 spread with 6:23 remaining. The two teams traded punts before the Cobbers fumbled in the final minute, recovered by Michael Judd, allowing Bethel to take a knee to end the game.
 
The shutout is the first this season and the sixth in the tenure of third year defensive coordinator Mike McElroy. The Cobbers were held to 214 yards of total offense and 10 first downs while completing just five of 13 passes. Concordia averaged 3.4 yards per carry on their 40 rushing attempts, totaling 135 yards, nearly 100 yards below their season average entering the game.
 
Roste's 300 yards passing eclipsed his previous career high of 299 yards in week two at UW-River Falls. Roste completed 17 of his 24 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions, extending the Royals streak of consecutive passes without an INT to 170.
 
Sam Gibas and Sid Boros led the Royals rushing attack. Gibas totaled 65 yards on 16 carries while Boros added 63 yards on just eight carries. Drew Larsen was the Royals leading receiver once again with six catches for 97 yards. Boros contributed 78 yards on four catches. For the season Boros averages over 13 yards per touch, 12 per carry and 17 per catch.
 
On the defensive side Mike Delich had a big day from his linebacker position, leading the way with seven tackles along with three tackles for loss and a sack. Delich also contributed a rushing touchdown on offense. John Sfire and Kyle Peach both had sacks while Cale Ferrin had six tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Nathaniel Hanson and Michael Judd recovered the Cobbers fumbles while Tavian Swanson and Emmanuel Blackshear had the interceptions.
 
The Royals improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAC while Concordia falls to 2-5 and 2-3 in the MIAC. Bethel returns home for the next two weeks as they will face Hamline and Augsburg, neither of which has recorded a win in MIAC play.