KICKOFF COVERAGE
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Looking to stay undefeated in MIAC play and remain atop the Skyline Division, the No. 11th-ranked Bethel football team (5-1, 4-0 MIAC) travels down Snelling Avenue to Macalester College (2-4, 0-4 MIAC) for a 1 p.m. kickoff in St. Paul. The Royals enter on a four-game winning streak following a 45-7 victory over Concordia while the Scots are looking to snap a four-game losing skid coming off a loss to Augsburg, 42-21.
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Saturday will see two of the top three third down offenses in the MIAC where BU converts 47.3 percent of the time. Macalester, second in the MIAC, coverts at 49.4 percent of the time. There shouldn't be too many flags thrown as both teams are the least penalized in the conference. BU averaged 4.7 flags a game while MAC leads the conference with a 4.5 mark.
SERIES HISTORY
Series:Â BU leads 22-10
Last:Â BU won 63-10 (Oct. 23, 2021) in Arden Hills
• It will be the 32nd all-time meeting when the Royals and Scots meet on the gridiron Saturday. The Royals are currently on a 14-game winning streak in the series where they leas 22-10. Last year's meet up, the first since the 2001 season, saw the Royals come out on top 63-10 where BU amassed 651 yards of offense.
COACHES CORNER
ROYAL NOTES
• Bethel's defense was out in full force giving up a season-low 230 yards last week. 130 of those yards came on the ground while the 100 yards through the air was also a season-low surrendered. Since the 2017 season it's the 27th time BU has kept its opponent under 300 yards of offense while having a 25-2 record in that same timeframe.
• For the second time this year the Royals' "D" kept their opponent off the scoreboard in the second half. Through the 2018 season, it was the 11th game in which the Royals forced their opponent to put up a zero though the final 30 minutes. BU is now 10-1 during that stretch including shutouts in five of those wins.
• Sophomore wide receiver Joey Kidder brought in a single-game record 16 receptions, the second most by a Division III receiver this year, on a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns. He added 61 yards-after-catch while recording his seventh career 100-yard receiving game. The performance landed him a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week, joining teammate Micah Niewald, who held the previous single-game record of 15 catches, as the two honorees this year.
BY THE NUMBERS
6 – The number of sophomore receivers who have caught a touchdown pass this season.
Micah Niewald,
Joey Kidder and
Aaron Ellingson have all reeled in three TDs this season.
Will Eliason,
Ethan Sailer, and
Gabe Ante have reach brought in one.
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20 – different Royals recorded at least one tackle in the win over Concordia
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3 – sacks allowed by the Royals that ranks as the fifth fewest nationally.
WHEN IT COUNTS
• Bethel's third-down defense has been among the national elite over the years and continue to show that intensity this season. Through six games, the Royals' opponents are converting on third down just 27.4 percent (23-of-84) of the time ranking 19th nationally and second in the MIAC.
CHASING HISTORY
• Senior quarterback Jaran Roste was named MIAC Offensive Player of the Week following a career performance of 423 yards, the second most in a single-game, on 34-of-39 passing yards, one completion shy of tying the single-game record.
• Roste is making his way towards the top of the record books chasing Bethel great, Scott Kirchoff who holds four career passing records. Adding three passing touchdowns last week, his career mark of 58 is seven away from tying Kirchoff.
• Through the air he has 7,740 passing yards moving him into second all-time and passing Erik Peterson's 7,534 yards. He is now 389 yards away from surpassing Scott Kirchoff and become the Royals' all-time passing leader.
• Roste is already the Royals all-time leader with 41 career rushing touchdowns and 9,933 total offensive yards.
GET IN THE "RED ZONE"
• BU is 26-of-31 inside the 'red zone' this year with 20 touchdowns and six field goals. Most recently against Concordia they were 6-for-9. Their 83.9 success percentage ranks 54th nationally and third in the MIAC.
• BU's opponents are 9-for-15 inside the red zone. They have scored eight touchdowns and one field goal. The Royals' defense has recorded an interception and a fumble recovery when the opponent is inside the 20. A 60 percent mark is second best in the MIAC and 29th nationally.
LEAVING A LEGACY
• Head coach Steve Johnson enters his 34th season at the helm of the BU program. With an all-time record of 239-106-1 (.691) he sits second for most wins among active Division III coaches. The 239 wins also ranks as the 15th most all-time in Division III football. The mark also ranks seventh among all active coaches in NCAA football.
