ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The No. 16/17 ranked Bethel Royals football team is set to open MIAC divisional play this Saturday with a road matchup against Hamline University. The Royals and Pipers both enter the contest with matching 3-1 records on the season and 1-1 in MIAC crossover games. HU defeated Crown (54-38) and Minnesota-Morris (30-28) in their non-conference games and then lost to Carleton (35-7) and beat St. Scholastica (34-18) last Saturday. The Royals and Pipers both reside in the Skyline Division within the MIAC as this will mark the first such contest for both schools in the first year of the new format. Bethel owns a 24 game winning streak over the Pipers dating through the 1996 season.

The Pipers have shown good balance on offense thus far this year as quarterback Connor Leavens ranks fifth in the MIAC, averaging 241.5 yard per game through the air while running back Nikolas Rocafort is the fourth leading rusher at 69.3 yards per game. Leavens has thrown 10 touchdowns to five interceptions while being sacked 11 times through the first four games. Two Piper defenders rank among the league leaders in tackles per game (Sam Fritz - 33 tackles) and sacks (Godmar Gach - 3 sacks). As a team the Pipers are sixth in scoring offense at 31.3 points per game and fifth in scoring defense at 29.8 points per game.        

The Royals enter with the league's second ranked scoring defense at 13.5 points per game, behind only Carleton (7.5 ppg) while the offense ranks fifth at 36.5 points per game. Freshman wide receiver Joey Kidder is third in the MIAC with 101 yards per game receiving and four touchdowns, including two last week. Senior dual threat quarterback Jaran Roste still leads the league in completion percentage (67.9%) and efficiency rating (187.8) while also rushing for four touchdowns, the second highest total in the MIAC. Roste has tossed eight touchdown passes to just one interception.

Royal Road Trip
The Royals make the short trek south down Snelling Avenue to the Hamline University campus which is located just south of the Minnesota State Fair Grounds. Fans can park in lot B located on the south side of Taylor Ave. and the west side of Pascal Street.  

Opponent: Hamline University
Live video: HU Portal
Live stats: HU Portal
Twitter updates: Bethel Gameday & Bethel Royals FB
Location: St. Paul, Minn.
Stadium: Klas Field 
Miles from Bethel's campus: 6.6 miles
Estimated time of travel: 12 minutes
Recommended hotspots: Located just two and a half miles north and east of the Hamline campus is a pair of lunch spots that have been a favorite of several Bethel athletics department members over the last many years. The Original Malt Shop (formerly Snuffy's) located at 1125 Larpenteur Ave is a 50's style diner with outstanding burgers & malts. Just around the corner is Maverick's Real Roast Beef at 1746 Lexington Ave, a counter-serve spot featuring roast beef, brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. And on the way back to campus don't forget to hit up the Lake Josephine Dairy Queen at 3070 Lexington Ave in Roseville, a proud sponsor of Bethel University and Bethel athletics.