ST. PETER, Minn. – The No. 8-ranked Bethel University football team pulled out a nail biter in a 35-33 victory over upset minded Gustavus Adolphus College. The Royals got out to an early 14-0 lead but had to come from behind in the fourth quarter before stopping the Gusties two-point conversion attempt with just 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory. The Bethel defense recorded three sacks on the day while intercepting Gustavus four times and holding the Gusties to just 53 yards rushing.
 


The Royals first interception came on the opening series of the game, just four plays in. Defensive end Max Janes dropped into coverage and picked off the errant pass at midfield and returned it to the Gustavus 33 yard line. Janes then carried the ball on Bethel's first offensive play of the game for six yards and the Royals powered their way down the field on seven runs with Jaran Roste plunging in from one yard out to finish the drive. Bjorn Charles hit the extra point and the Royals held an early 7-0 lead. Bethel forced a pair of three-and-outs on the next two GAC possessions before marching on an 11-play, 68 yard drive capped off by a 10-yard strike from Roste to wideout Drew Larsen and the Royals were up 14-0 early in the second quarter.
 
The Gusties next possession was stopped on a Mike Delich sack on a third and long play and GAC punted again, their fourth punt in their first four possessions with just two first downs gained. The Gusties defense was able to provide a spark however, as Bethel faced a fourth and one from their own 28-yard line and went for it. GAC stopped the Royals just short giving their offense a short field. The Bethel defense appeared to hold tight, stopping the Gusties on fourth and 11, but what appeared to be offensive pass interference was called on the Bethel defense, giving the Gusties a first down at the two yard line. They punched it in to draw within 14-7. Neither offense was able to generate much in their final two possessions of the half and the Royals took their 14-7 lead into the locker room.
 
The first three plays of the second half saw the two team's trade turnovers. After a Bethel fumble on the second play of the half the Gusties then turned around and threw an interception on their first play. Senior safety Cale Ferrin picked off the errant pass, his second interception on consecutive GAC pass attempts, as Ferrin had also intercepted the Gusties near the end of the first half. Bethel would drive down to the Gustavus 15 before attempting a 32-yard field goal. Freshman kicker Bjorn Charles had his first miss on the season of either a field goal or extra point however as his attempt clanged off the left upright.
 
Gustavus was able to tie the game up two drives later after a 14-yard connection from senior quarterback Michael Veldman to senior receiver Brice Panning on a play in which the Bethel defensive back covering Panning was knocked down by a Gustavus receiver down field but was not called. During the course of the drive Bethel's safety Cale Ferrin was called for targeting and ejected on an incomplete pass. The Royals offense showed their metal however and came out with a renewed energy and quickly started picking up chunks of yardage, marching down the field despite being called for chop block and holding penalties. The drive resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run by Sam Gibas to put Bethel back in front 21-14 just as the fourth quarter began.
 
The fourth quarter would be a wild one as Gustavus was able to connect on a few big pass plays, including a great catch by Dalton Thelen for a 15-yard touchdown on a third and seven. On the ensuing kickoff a miscommunication by the Royals returners on a high kick that was knocked down by a stiff wind, hitting off a Bethel up-man, and recovered by the Gusties at the BU 30-yard line. Four plays later Gustavus was able to take their first lead of the game with a six yard touchdown pass. On the PAT attempt a poor snap caused the GAC holder to have to scramble, heaving a pass towards the end zone but was intercepted by Bethel to keep the score at 27-21. The failed PAT would turn out to be a huge piece of the final score.
 
Bethel quickly marched down the field once again as a five play, 65-yard drive was finished on another Roste to Larsen connection, this one from just four yards out. The drive was highlighted by a 25-yard Roste to John Carlson connection and a pair of Sam Gibas runs for 19 yards. Carlson, the Royals holder, did a great job of getting a less than perfect snap down for Charles on the PAT and Bethel was able to take the lead back at 28-27 with 5:45 remaining.
 
Bethel's defense then came up with their fourth, and biggest, interception of the game. Pressure up the middle by defensive tackle Levi Duininck forced Veldman to hurry his throw and the pass was intercepted by Jacob Hall, filling in for Ferrin, and returned 38 yards to the Gustavus 17-yard line. From there, a pair of Sam Gibas runs for 16-yards followed by a pair of QB sneaks by Jaran Roste resulted in Bethel's fifth touchdown and an eight point lead at 35-27 with four minutes remaining in the game.
 
Gustavus and their MIAC leading passing offense were not done though, as six straight completions took the Gusties down the field. Veldman found Panning in the endzone once again on a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch with just 13 seconds remaining in the game. Because of the earlier failed PAT, the Gusties were still down by two and needed to get the two-point conversion to tie the game. Veldman dropped back to pass and looked for Panning again but the Bethel defense had him covered this time and Veldman was unable to connect on a desperation heave into the back of the endzone. The Gusties last hopes came on a great onside kick attempt but the Royals were able to cover the ball which bounced off of three different Bethel hands team members before being covered.
 
The Bethel defense gave a strong showing in facing the high powered Gustavus aerial attack. With completions on six of his last seven attempts, Veldman finished 22-41 with four touchdowns but also four interceptions for 269 yards. Veldman entered the game averaging an MIAC best 332.3 yards passing per game. In addition to the four interceptions, Royals defenders also had seven pass breakups. The defense also came up with seven tackles for loss, totaling 38 yards, including three sacks for losses of 20 yards. Ferrin, despite not playing in the fourth quarter, totaled a team high seven tackles to go along with two interceptions. Fellow defensive backs Matt Feldick and Tavian Swanson also had seven tackles, six solo, with a pass breakup each. Junior free safety Jacob Hall had six solo tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
 
On offense the Royals threw for 162 yards while rushing for 199. Roste finished 16-21 through the air for the 162 yards and two touchdowns. The Royals offensive line kept Roste clean once again, as they have not allowed a sack on 76 pass attempts this season. Sam Gibas was the Royals leading rusher with 112 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. Roste had two touchdowns on the ground, both QB sneaks and totaled 60 yards on 19 carries. Drew Larsen had four catches for 29 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a league best seven TD's in just three games.
 
Bethel will now turn their attention to Homecoming as they return to Royal Stadium next Saturday for the first time since the season opener on September 7^th. The Royals (3-0, 1-0 MIAC) welcome the Carleton Knights (2-2, 0-2 MIAC) for the homecoming game at 1 p.m.