ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Jaran Roste to Joey Kidder connection was in full force as the No. 11th-ranked Bethel University football team earned a dominate 45-7 MIAC Skyline Division win over Concordia, 45-7.
 
Roste had a career day throwing for 423 yards on 34-of-39 passing. Now with 7,740 career passing yards, he passes Erik Peterson into second all-time. His main target of Kidder caught a Bethel single-game record 16 passes, on 18 targets, for 196 yards. The Royals had three different players run it into the endzone getting rushing touchdowns from Roste, Bryce Kunkle and Nic Krueger.
 
BU dominated the time of possession 40:11 to the Cobbers' 19:49. The Royals produced 564 yards of offense holding Concordia to 230.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• After turning it over on down on its opening drive, Bethel got on the board with a 27-yard field goal from Hugo Cifuentes.
• Bethel's defense forced three straight punts while holding the Cobbers to 119 yards of offense in the first half.
• The offense continued to go to work making it 10-0 as Roste connected with Kidder for a 28-yard touchdown reception capping out a six play, 72-yard drive.
• A deep ball from Roste to Aaron Ellingson set up the Royals inside the redzone. Kunkle would get three rushing attempts which included a four-yard scamper into the endzone.
• Concordia used a big play in the form of a 30-yard catch getting them down to the one-yard line. Two plays later the Cobbers rushed it in with 24 seconds left before the break.
 
2nd Half
• After Roste threw an infortune interception the Royals would score on their next four drives. They got touchdown receptions from Gabe Ante (19 yards) and Joey Kidder (nine yards).
• The defense continued putting pressure on the Cobbers as their longest drive of the half came in the form of eight plays and 37 yards. That drive finished with a big stop by the defense line holding strong on a four and one play which went for a loss.
• The Cobbers would fumble on their next drive as Jacob Holmen punched it out and Thomas Wurderman recovered it.
• It only took three plays from there for Roste to find Kidder in the endzoe putting BU up 31-7.
• In the fourth, Roste would rush it in from one yard out before Nic Krueger ran it in from three yards.  
• The defense got home more stop forcing its fourth fumble of the game. Kolin Baier recovered it for the Royals.
 
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
• Jaran Roste – 34-of-39, career-high 423 yards, 3 TDs, 10 carries, 68 rushing yards
• Joey Kidder – program single-game record 16 catches, career-high 196 yards, 2 TD, 61 yards after catch
 
Defense
• Jacob Holmen – 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble
• Nate Farm – 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss.
 
GAME NOTES
• Bethel loss the toss for the third straight weekend. They are now 3-0 when losing the coin toss this season.
• The Royals win their fourth straight against the Cobbers moving the all-time series record to 20-24.
• Saturday's attendance was 3,625 bringing Bethel's home attendance average to 4,384 in four games.
• 20 different players recorded a tackle in Saturday's win. Bethel totaled 55 tackles, 29 of which were solos.
• Jaran Roste's 423 passing yards is the second most by a Bethel quarterback in a game. His 34 completions are also the second-most in a BU single-game.
• Jaran Roste also trotted into the endzone for a program-best 41 rushing touchdowns. That mark moves him into eighth all-time in the MIAC
• It's the second time this season a BU receiver has reeled in a program single-game record receptions. Micah Niewald tied the previous record mark of 15 at Gustavus Adolphus.
• Hugo Cifuentes made all six of his extra-point kicks extending his make streak to 65.
• The defense forced four fumbles, recovering three of them. That is the most since 2016 when the Royals did the same thing against Augsburg on November 11, 2016.
•  With 564 yards of offense, the Royals have now had at least one 500-plus yard game in 13 straight seasons.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals travel up Snelling Ave to Macalester on Saturday, Oct. 22 for another MIAC Skyline Division game. Kickoff in St. Paul is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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