ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Saturday college football was alive and well in Arden Hills as the No. 13th-ranked Bethel University football team powered its way past Pacific Lutheran, 41-9.
The Royal Stadium crowd was entertained to an offensive performance where BU out gained PLU 461-307 following a slow start that saw BU lead 3-0 after the opening quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st quarter
• Starting senior quarterback
Jaran Roste left the game after an injury on the Royals fourth play of the game on a 13-yard pickup where BU was 2nd & 24. Junior George took over for the remainder of the contest
•
Matthew Feldick had a near pick six on PLU's second drive before an illegal block in the back at the two-yard line brought it back
•
Hugo Cifuentes put Bethel on the board with a 21-yard field goal at the 6:24 mark
2nd quarter
• A bad snap through the back of the endzone by BU gave PLU a safety
• Bolt got his first career passing touchdown connecting with sophomore wide receiver
Aaron Ellingson
• Sophomore linebacker
Jacob Holmen had BU's second pick of the day setting up the Royals in the red zone with 1:15 before the half.
• A 56-yard connection between Bolt and sophomore
Joey Kidder gave BU a 17-2 lead at the break
3rd Quarter
• The defense limited the Lutes to 67 yards of offense in the third compared to the Royals 146
• Cifuentes nailed a career-high 35-yard at the 9:32 mark expanding the margin to 20-2.
• PLU scored its lone touchdown on a 40-yard pass capping out a four-play drive that went 60 yards
• Making his Bethel debut,
David Geebli strutted his way into the endzone for his first collegiate touchdown on a 10-yard carry
4th Quarter
• Junior running back
Bryce Kunkle had his only touchdown of the day running it in from three yards out
• Geebli moved Bethel into the 40s with a nine-yard touchdown run
KEY PERFORMERS
Offense
•
George Bolt – 19-for-31, 238 yards, 2 TDs
•
Bryce Kunkle – 21 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD
•
David Geebli – 8 carries, 66 yards
•
Micah Niewald – 10 catches, 105 yards, 58 yards after catch
•
Joey Kidder – 2 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
Defense
•
Matthew Feldick – 10 tackles, 1 INT returned for 33 yards
•
Nate Farm – 7 tackles
•
Jacob Holmen – 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss for 5 yards, 1 INT returned for 12 yards
GAME NOTES
•
Hugo Cifuentes made all five extra points adding on to his 39-for-39 streak from last season
• It's the fourth straight season where Bethel won its season opener
• BU has scored 40 or more points now in 14 games over the last four seasons
• Bethel has produced 400 or more yards of offense in nine of the last 12 games
UP NEXT
The Royals wrap up non-conference play with their first road test of the season at Wisconsin-Platteville on Saturday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
