EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – A bounce back performance for the No. 18 Bethel University football team saw its offense backed by big defense plays as the Royals shutout Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 24-0, wrapping up non-conference play Saturday afternoon on the road.
 
Redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Call had a big day in his first collegiate start going 24-of-34 in the air for 334 yards with two touchdowns. Those two connections in the endzone were with junior wide receiver Joey Kidder in the form of a 34-yard touchdown reception in the first and 76-yarder in the second. Kidder's two touchdown receptions brought his career total to 25 which is tied for second with Jeremy Belisle (1996-99).
 
The defense pitched its first shutout of the year behind three interceptions and a pair of sacks. The Royals (1-1) held the Blugolds (1-1) to 110 yards of offense on 48 plays. It's the fewest yards allowed by a Bethel defense since November 2, 2019 when they held Hamline to 39 yards.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• Bethel's defense started the day strong getting a three-and-out on the Blugolds opening drive. The Royals offense countered with a drawn out 13 play drive before UWEC stopped the Royals on a fourth-and-one play at the one-yard line.
• With over a minute to go in the first Kidder had a nice 19-yard punt return setting the Royals up at the UWEC 43-yard line. It took all of one play for Call to find Kidder near the far side pylon as Kidder went up with a Blugold on his side for the early 7-0 lead.
• Isaac Call got the ball back for the Royals with his third career interception at the 11:28 mark of the second doing so at the UWEC 35. BU almost turned that into points working with the short field, but after making a catch, Kidder had the ball popped out at the one yard line which was recovered by Eau Claire in the endzone.
• Another bend but not break situation for the defense forced another punt of UWEC with just over 3:30 to go in the half. BU made quick work again scoring in two plays. Call found Kidder at the Royals own 45-yard line before racing past three Blugolds down the sideline and into the endzone with the longest reception of his career at 76 yards.
• The Blugolds were marching just before half but Nate Farm came up with the big play picking off the UWEC quarterback in the endzone and returning it 48 yards as BU took a 14-0 lead into the break.
 
2nd Half
• Both teams would punt on their first two opening drives of the second half.
• With 31 seconds left in the third, BU had worked its way into the redzone before junior placekicker Hugo Cifuentes split the uprights on a 22-yard field goal.
• The big defensive plays continued as Matt Jung had his first career interception on the Blugolds' first play of the next drive.
• Bethel's defense would keep UWEC out of Royal territory for nearly the entire second half. UWEC ran one play from Bethel territory, the third play of the half, that resulted in a four-yard loss.
• Riley Gritz added the insurance points rushing in from one yard out with 5:37 left in the game. That capped a 10-play, 48-yard drive that chewed up 5:03 of the clock.
 
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
• Alex Call – 24-of-34, 334 yards, 2 TDs
• Joey Kidder – 8 catches for 175 yards, 2 TDs.
• Aaron Ellingson – 18 rushes, 63 yards
 
Defense
• Matt Jung – 6 tackles, TFL, INT
• Devin Williams – 2 tackles, 3 pass breakups
 
GAME NOTES
• Bethel won the toss and deferred their choice to the second half. UWEC elected to receive. BU is now 1-1 when winning the toss this season.
• For the second straight week BU's defense got a three-and-out their first time on the field. The Royals defense has force 10 three-and-outs in two games, including six on Saturday.   
• Bethel dominated the time of possession 38:25-21:35.
• It's career win No. 245 for Steve Johnson tying him for 14th all-time in Division III.
• Joey Kidder moved up to fourth all-time in receiving yards with 2,320.
•  The 76-yard reception from Alex Call to Joey Kidder is the longest by a Bethel QB since 9/23/2017 when Bryce Marquardt had a 96-yard TD pass to Jake Marsh.
• Nate Farm's interception was the seventh of his career.
• Hugo Cifuentes is now 11-for-13 all time in field goal attempts.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals jump into MIAC play traveling to No. 9 Saint John's next Saturday, Sept. 23. Kickoff in Collegeville is set for 1 p.m.

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