ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University football team scored nine touchdowns and ran up over 600 yards of total offense in dispatching Augsburg 62-6 in the final home game of 2019 at Royal Stadium. The Royals never punted on the day as the only two possessions Bethel did not score on was a fumble in the endzone on their opening drive, and a missed field goal in the third quarter. Every other Bethel drive finished with a touchdown, including a pick-six by senior defensive back Anthony Hockett in the third quarter. The Bethel defense put together another impressive effort, holding Augsburg to 244 yards of offense with four sacks and ten tackles for loss. The Royals finish the home schedule unbeaten at 5-0 for the 10^th time in head coach Steve Johnson's 31-year tenure. Bethel will go on the road next week to take on St. Thomas with the winner claiming a share of the MIAC regular season title, and for the Royals, a possible at-large NCAA playoff berth.
 
The Royals opening possession saw Bethel quickly move down the field and Jaran Roste connected with Drew Larsen heading towards the endzone but in his efforts to extend the ball across the line fumbled into the endzone and it was covered by Augsburg. The early turnover did not phase the Royals though as the defense forced a quick three-and-out and Bethel needed just four plays to go 50 yards for a touchdown. Roste connected with tight end Nick Banfield from 12 yards out. The Auggies five first half possessions all turned up empty, the first four resulting in punts with just one first down gained and their best drive ending on downs after eight plays and 50 yards. Meanwhile nothing was slowing the Royals offense. Fisher Marberg carried a slew of Auggies into the endzone on a five yard run for the Royals second score. Drew Larsen, filling in for regular kicker Bjorn Charles, kicked the extra point. Larsen then did what he does best, catching a 12-yard touchdown pass from Roste, Larsen's ninth of the year. Larsen's score made it 21-0 after his successful PAT. Senior running back Joel Koenecke capped off a seven-play, 55-yard drive with a five yard touchdown run. John Carlson was the next Royal to catch a touchdown pass from Roste, this one from nine yards out with just 23 seconds remaining in the first half. The Royals drive was a 13-play, 85-yard jaunt that took 6:45 off the clock, all game highs.
 
The second half saw Augsburg put together a nine-play, 40-yard drive but the Royals defense stiffened, stopping the Auggies on a fourth and two from the Bethel 24-yard line. Sid Boros then flipped the field, breaking loose for a 45-yard run and from there the Royals grinded it down to the one yard line over the next five plays. Fisher Marberg became the only Royal to score more than once with a one yard run to make the score 42-0. On Augsburg's ensuing possession the Auggies faced a third and three and attempted a pass which was picked off by Anthony Hockett who had nothing but green, Royal Stadium grass in front of him, going 37 yards for the touchdown.
 
The Auggies were able to score their lone touchdown of the game on their next possession to open the fourth quarter, an 11-play, 80-yard drive finished by a 14-yard pass from Quinn Frisell to Zach Kes. The PAT was no good.  Bethel then popped a pair of big runs with freshman Landon Liudahl scoring first on a 63-yard touchdown on the Royals first play. Sophomore Hunter Thomas then broke loose for a 58-yard run with just 1:45 left, putting Bethel up 62-6. The Royals PAT attempt was unsuccessful after a bad snap forced holder Jon Pytlak to toss a lateral to Larsen who then lofted a pass into the endzone that was knocked down. Overall Larsen was 8-8 on his PAT's while averaging 51.1 yards on 10 kickoffs with two touchbacks.
 
Bethel's quarterbacks, led by Jaran Roste, had a banner day throwing the ball. Roste was 21-23 for 272 yards and three touchdowns while Jake Marsh was 5-5 for 27 yards in his time. In all, Bethel QB's have now thrown 214 consecutive passes since their only interception of the year in the season opener. Roste and Marsh spread the ball around to nine different receivers with senior Jon Pytlak leading the way with six catches for 88 yards. Larsen caught five balls for 77 yards and a touchdown. John Carlson had five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
 
On the ground Bethel once again spread the wealth, using eight different ball carriers. Sid Boros led the way with 10 carries for 73 yards. Hunter Thomas and Landon Liudahl combined for three carries, 133 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Joel Koenecke had 11 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown. Fisher Marberg scored two touchdowns on his six carries for 24 yards. Quarterback Roste needed to carry the ball just three times on the day, totaling nine yards.
 
Bethel return man Nic Jones totaled 83 all-purpose yards. Catching one pass for 15 yards, returning three punts with a long of 19 yards, and two kickoffs for 56 yards.
 
One week after setting a record with 19 tackles for loss, the Bethel defense backed that up with ten more tackles for losses of 53 yards. Four sacks, a quarterback hurry, two pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown were other highlights for the Bethel 'D'. Mike Delich was the Royals leading tackler with five, including a half sack and one and a half tackles for loss. Anthony Hockett had four tackles to go along with his pick six. Nine Royals had four tackles, including defensive end John Sfire who had a sack and two tackles for loss. Augsburg's Quinn Fresell was just 13-30 passing for 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Auggies rushed 33 times for 62 yards, averaging just 1.9 yards per carry.
 
The Royals can now turn their attention to the showdown at O'Shaugnessy Stadium in St. Paul against the Tommies of St. Thomas. The winner of the Royals and Tommies matchup will claim a share of the MIAC title while the Royals would be in position for a likely at-large berth with a victory. No. 19 St. Thomas defeated Gustavus by a 57-36 score to improve to 7-2, 6-1 in the MIAC. The No. 9 Royals will enter the contest at 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the MIAC. Kickoff will be at 1:10 p.m.