ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Junior running back
Nic Krueger's career-day of 62 rushing yards on 15 carries with four touchdowns led the way for the No. 11th-ranked Bethel University football to a homecoming victory over Hamline, 49-14.
Senior quarterback
Jaran Roste targeted three different receivers in the endzone finishing with 225 yards on 17-of-23 passing. BU put points on the board all seven times they entered the redzone while outpouring the Pipes 365-267 in total offense.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• Hamline picked off Roste on the Royals opening drive as his pass deflected off the hands of
Aaron Ellingson and into the Pipers hands.
• Set up inside the Royals 10-yard line, HU got on the board in two plays for the early lead.
• Bethel's offense showed no panic evening it up as
Ethan Sailer grabbed his first career touchdown from 11 yards out.
• The Royals put up plus-seven on their next five possessions. Two of which came from the elusive Krueger, both from two yards out.
• BU's defense came up with its fifth straight stop as
Matthew Feldick picked off a deep pass in Royal territory 18 seconds before the half, sending the Royals into the break up 35-7.
2nd Half
• Krueger scored both of BU's touchdowns in the second half. March in from one yard out with 10:56 to go in the third.
• A bad snap on a punting opportunity for the Pipers resulted in a fumble which they dove on allowing for a turnover on downs. That allowed QB
George Bolt to enter with 8:25 to go in the third and march the Royals in from 25 yards out.
• Bolt connected with
Gabe Ante before showing off his speed on a seven-yard rush up the middle. The rest was up to Krueger who gained seven yards before waltzing into the endzone from the five-yard line.
• Hamline used an explosive 57-yard reception to get down to the one-yard line before the Piper QB worked around to the left side diving in and making 49-14.
• Both defenses pitched shutouts in the fourth quarter allowing the punters to get in some work.
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
•
Jaran Roste – 17-of-23, 225 yards, 3 TDs
•
Nic Krueger – 15 carries for 62 yards, 4 TDs
•
Joey Kidder – 6 catches on 7 targets, 92 yards, TD
•
Gabe Ante – 4 catches, 33 yards
Defense
•
Matthew Feldick– 10 tackles, 1 INT for 19 yards
•
Nate Farm – 7 tackles, 2 pass breakups
•
Isaac Call – 1 sack for 8 yards
GAME NOTES
• Bethel lost the toss for the second straight weekend. They are now 2-0 when losing the coin toss this season.
• The Royals extend their winning streak to 26 games against the Pipers while improving to 35-32 in the all-time series.
• BU has now won 19 of its last 24 homecoming games.
• Saturday's attendance was 4,476 bringing Bethel's home attendance average to 4,637 in three games.
• 10 different receivers had at least one catch as Bolt and Roste combined to go 21-of-32 for 252 passing yards.
• Roste now has 7,317 career passing yards putting him 811 yards away from tying Scott Kirchoff (1993-2003) for all-time passing yards at 8,128. Roste is also 10 touchdowns away from tying Kirchoff's career mark of 65.
•
Isaac Call recorded his first career sack helping BU extend its streak to 11 games with at least one sack by the defense.
• Kureger's four rushing scores ties the most in a single game since 2017. Teammates
Bryce Kunkle accomplished it last season at Macalester and
Jaran Roste did so against Carleton in 2018.
UP NEXT
The Royals remain in Arden Hills hosting Concordia to begin the back stretch of the schedule on Saturday, Oct. 15. The MIAC Skyline divisional matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Royal Stadium.
