MINNEAPOLIS – Building a quick 17-0 lead in the opening quarter, backed by a defense that was plus-five in the turnover column, the Bethel University football team ran away with a 38-7 win at Augsburg Saturday afternoon.
For the second straight week, BU had three rushing touchdown scorers with
Riley Gritz leading the way with two.
Aaron Ellingson rushed one in during his career-high 153-yard day with
George Bolt adding one.
On defense, Bethel (4-2, 3-1 MIAC, 2-0 Skyline Div.) tallied seven sacks, the most in a game since Nov. 2, 2019, led by
Caden DeWall with two and a half. Seven different Royals tallied at least half a sack.
BU continued its work on the ground rushing for 231 yards while holding Augsburg (4-2, 2-2 MIAC, 1-1 Skyline Div.) to 20 net yards. The Auggies flipped the script in the air holding the edge 222-89. Bethel racked up 320 total yards of offense compared to Augsburg's 242.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• The defense was first on the field but wasn't there for long forcing a fumble two plays into the game as
Jacob Holmen picked it up and returned it 33 yards to the Augsburg 11-yard line.
• Three rushing plays later
Riley Gritz punched it in from six yards out.
• The defense forced a pair of three-and-outs before Bethel made it 14-0. The speedy Ellingson broke through the left side thanks to great blocking from the o-line turning the corner down the sideline and marching in for a 37-yard rushing touchdown with 5:24 left in the first.
• On the next drive,
Thomas Wurdemann notched his first career interception setting up the offense to work from Augsburg's 32-yard line.
• A 23-yard rush on the first play set BU up inside the 10 but they were held to a 23-yard field goal from
Hugo Cifuentes making it 17-0.
• Bethel' expanded on its lead with a 10-play, 41-yard drive that chewed up 5:04 of the clock. Having already converted on fourth down once on the drive, BU faced a fourth-and-three from the 11 when Bolt floated one to the back pylon for
Micah Niewald to make a nice over-the-should catch in the endzone.
•
Matt Jung intercepted the Auggies QB twice in the final 90 seconds giving BU a 24-0 lead at the break.
2nd Half
• Bethel scored on its opening drive of the second half taking the first 6:43 to do so. BU marked 85 yards that resulted in a one-yard touchdown rush for Bolt on fourth-and-goal, the 14th play of the drive.
• The defense continued asserting its dominance as Augsburg faced a fourth-and-four from its 31-yard line midway through the third. BU's D-line easily broke through the Auggies O-line as
Noah Richards got the sack fumble with
Kolin Baier getting the recovery.
• Two plays later, Ellingson's 26-yard carry down to the one allowed Gritz the one-yard touchdown run making it 38-0 with 5:27 to go in the third.
• Augsburg denied Bethel of the shutout scoring with 14:27 to go in the game converting a 26-yard touchdown pass on third-and-14.
• The Auggies chewed up 8:22 of the fourth with a 22-play drive where BU got its final stop of the game. The Auggies were fourth-and-gal from the sixth as a passing play was stopped a yard short of the goal line.
TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
•
Aaron Ellingson – 17 carries for a career-high 153 yards, TD
•
Micah Niewald – five catches for 59 yards, TD
Defense
•
Matt Jung – 6 tackles, 2 INTs
•
Caden DeWall – 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks for a loss of 14 yards
GAME NOTES
• Bethel won the toss and deferred its choice to the second half. Augsburg elected to receive.
• BU won the time of possession battle for the fifth time this season, 31:44-28:16.
• Bethel's four interceptions on defense is the most in a game since Oct. 9, 2021 at Hamline.
• The Royals improve to 30-15-3 all-time against Augsburg and has now won seven straight against the Auggies.
•
Steve Johnson improves to 248-110-1 (.692) all-time where he sits 12th in wins for Division III. He is one win shy of tying Jimmye Laycock (William & Mary) and Lou Holtz for 29th in all-time wins among all NCAA Divisions.
•
Joey Kidder remains fourth all-time in receiving yards as his eight yards move him to 2,366 for his career and is 346 yards away from third.
•
Micah Niewald remains sixth all-time now with 2,076 receiving yards. He is 88 yards from tying Eric Carlson (1997-00) for fifth.
•
Riley Gritz marks back-to-back multi-rushing touchdown games for the first time in his career. He now has five in the last two games.
UP NEXT
The Royals return home next Saturday, Oct. 21 hosting Hamline for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
