McMINNVILLE, Ore.– A pair of interceptions by Anthony Hockett in the end zone backed by a career-high three-touchdown day from Joey Kidder lifted the No. 13 Bethel University football team to a 30-13 second-round win at previous unbeaten and No. 5 Linfield Saturday afternoon.
 
The Royals (10-2) outgained the Wildcats (11-1) 373-261 in a truly balanced attack with 159 rushing yards and 214 passing. Bethel's defense pitched a second-half shutout for the third time this year where both the interceptions came.
 
Bethel's defense brought consistent pressure sacking the Linfield QB six times for a total loss of 39 yards. It's the most sacks in a game since BU's eight against Hamline on November 2, 2019.
 
Jaran Roste's three touchdowns made him the Royals' all-time passing TD leader with 67 and surpassing Bethel great Scott Kirchoff. In addition his 238 yards of total offense today elevated him to a single-season record 2,785 yards of total offense surpassing Matt Lundeen's mark of 2,685 in 1997.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• Linfield marched down into the red zone on its opening drive but was held to a 34-yard field goal by the Bethel defense.
• The Royals responded with their longest drive of the year at 16 plays over an 8:22 span while covering 70 yards. It finished with a nice over-the-shoulder grab by Joey Kidder after Jaran Roste floated one to the back pylon.
• The Wildcats were held to another field goal this time from 46-yards out making it 7-6 BU with 11:52 left in the second.
• A 54-yard kickoff return by Nic Jones set up Bethel with good field position. David Geebli exploded for a 34-yard gain before Jaran Roste punched it out from two yards out.
• Linfield cut it to 14-13 with 7:52 to go on an 11-yard touchdown reception.
• BU turned it over on downs on its next possession that set up the defense to make its first big play of the game.
• On third-and-10 for the Wildcats, Judson Williams picked up the strip sack which was recovered by Thomas Wurdemann at the 20-yard line.
• The Royals turned that into points as Hugo Cifuentes nailed a 24-yard field goal.
• A sack by David Brandt finished off the first half that saw BU lead 17-13 at the break.
 
2nd Half
• The Royals turned it over on downs on their first drive of the second half while Linfield had to punt it away on the ensuing drive after Wurdermann got a huge sack on third down.
• Roste became the Royals' all-time passing touchdown leader connecting with Kidder again in the endzone with Kidder making the 11-yard grab just inside the left pylon.
• Linfield's 10-play drive carried over into the fourth quarter marching all the way down to the four-yard line. It was the next play that Hockett jumped in front of the receiver at the back of the end zone for his first interception of the day.
• Bethel only needed six plays to score as Kidder caught it at the Royals' 43-yard line before breaking into the open field for a 65-yard TD reception.
• With both teams punting on their next possessions, Linfield got it back with 5:33 left in need of a touchdown to get back in it.
• Starting with a short field, four straight completions got Linfield down to the BU six-yard line. A pass up the middle was tipped in the back of the end zone as a diving Hockett got his hands underneath it for his second pick of the game.
• The Royals chewed up the next 3:14 while the defense got one more sack on Linfield's final drive.
  
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
• Jaran Roste – 19-of-24 for 214 yards, 3 passing TDs, 6 carries for 24 yards and rushing TD
• David Geebli – 20 carries for 96 yards,
• Joey Kidder – 5 catches for 107 yards, career-high 3 TDs

Defense
• Nate Farm – 11 tackles, 8 solo, tack for loss
• Devin Williams – 11 tackles, 10 solo
• Jacob Holmen – two sacks for a total of 13 yards
 
Special Teams
• Nic Jones – 3 kickoff returns for 108 yards, 54-yard return long
 
GAME NOTES
• Bethel won the toss and deferred its choice to the second half. They are now 5-2 in games where they loss the toss.
• Bethel handed the Wildcats their third home loss since 2011, now 60-3.
• Five different players tallied a sack in the game.
• BU led the time of possession 34:00-26:00.
• For the second time this year the Royals were whistled for no penalties.
• Joey Kidder had his third 100-plus yard receiving game of the year and eighth of his career.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals are headed to the NCAA Division III Championships quarterfinals for the fifth time in program history and meet up with defending national champions Mary Hardin-Baylor. Kickoff is scheduled for noon local time with the game site to be announced Sunday afternoon by the NCAA.

POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

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