ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Open up the notebook and mark it down as another classic rivalry game between the No. 20 Bethel University football team and previous unbeaten and No. 2 Saint John's. The return of
Jaran Roste was felt by all while being backed by two late interceptions from the Royals defense capturing a 28-24 victory and snapping an eight-game losing skid to the Johnnies.
Roste's 72-yard connection to
Micah Niewald with 9:22 remaining proved to be game winning score. That was only the case though thanks to the defense who picked off the SJU quarterback on the Johnnies' final two drives.
With 6:53 to go,
Isaac Call captured the Royals first interception of the day inside their own territory. BU marched its way down from their own 25 before
David Geebli fumbled inside the 20 where Saint John's recovered.
Now over two minutes to go, and in the pouring rain, SJU had it third and 10 from their own 30. A pass to the near sideline came right at
Kamari Durmas who initially bobbled it but swiped it returning the interception to the Johnnies' 20-yard line. With SJU having two timeouts in its pocket, BU needed one first down and they got it thanks to a SJU unsportsmanlike penalty allowing Roste and the Royal offense to go into victory formation.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• Saint John's got on the board first with a long 19 play, 70-yard drive that took 9:20 and ended with a two-yard rushing touchdown.
• The Royals responded scoring on their first drive with a 45-yard rushing touchdown for
Bryce Kunkle, the longest of his career.
• Despite being outgained 102-61 in total offense in the second quarter, BU's defense held SJU to one lone scoring play, a 21-yard field goal with three second left in the half.
2nd Half
• Both teams came out swinging scoring on their first drives. BU did so with a 38-yard passing touchdown from Roste to
Joey Kidder. SJU responded the next drive going up 17-14 with a 58-yard touchdown reception.
• Bethel took the lead right back capping out a nine play, 66-yard drive over 4:19. Roste connected with
Aaron Ellingson from 12 yards out.
• SJU came right back with a nine-play drive ending in a five-yard touchdown run.
• It didn't take long for BU to respond scoring on its first play of the drive with Roste's second longest touchdown pass of his career. On the far sideline he aired it out over the top where Niewald beat the Johnnie safety making the grab at midfield and running it in the rest of the way.
• The defense got stops when they needed it picking off the Johnnies on their final two drives.
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
•
Jaran Roste – 19-of-29, 321 yards, 3 TD
•
Joey Kidder – 5 catches, 130 yards, TD, 34 yards after catch
•
Micah Niewald – 5 catches, 93 yards, TD, 79 yards after catch
•
Bryce Kunkle – 7 carries, 61 yards, TD
Defense
•
Jacob Holmen – 9 tackles, 1 sack-8 yards
•
Aidan Thomas – 2 tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss
GAME NOTES
• The Royals picked up their first win over the Johnnies sine 2013
• Bethel's five sacks is the most in a game since Nov. 2, 2019 when they recorded eight at Hamline
• Bethel won the toss for the third straight game and deferred to the second half
•
Bryce Kunkle's 45-yard touchdown run was a career long
•
Jaran Roste has now thrown for 300-plus yards in four career games. The 321 yards in the second most.
• The Royals have produced 500-plus yards of offense eight times in the last four years.
• It is the highest ranked win in program history.
UP NEXT
The Royals (2-1) remain in MIAC divisional crossover playing traveling south to St. Peter for a clash with Gustavus Adolphus. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
