COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The No. 19 Bethel University football team struck first but it was the No. 8th-ranked Saint John's Johnnies that tacked on 27 unanswered handing BU its first conference loss, 27-7.
Saint John's out gained the Royals 426 to 233 while holding Bethel to only 107 yards of offense in the second half. Bethel aired it out for 144 yards while rushing for 89 on 33 carries. SJU threw for 266 yards while rushing for 160 yards on 32 carries.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• Bethel's defense for the third straight game forced a three-and-out its first time on the field.
• The teams traded off punts on the next four possessions before the Royals defense got another stop with the Johnnies missing a 28-yard field goal after entering the redzone.
• With 14:08 left in the half
Isaac Call picked up his second interception in as many games, stepping in front of the Johnnie receiver and returning it 37 yards setting up a short field for BU.
• Faced with 4th-and-2 from the 29-yard line, Call connected with
Joey Kidder on a 19-yard catch that also had a flag for defensive pass interference on SJU.
Aaron Ellingson rushed it nine yards to the one setting up
Alex Call for the one-yard rushing TD, the first of his career.
• BU's only scoring drive came in the form oof six plays over the span of 2:41.
• Saint John's tied it up two drives later converting on 4th-and-12 with a 28-yard touchdown reception where the Johnnie receiver caught it by leaping over the BU safety.
• SJU took a 10-7 lead into the break hitting a 33-yard field goal with 1:11 left. That came seven plays after the Johnnies recovered a Royals' bad snap fumble in their own territory.
2nd Half
• Bethel was stopped on its second half opening drive only going 12 yards on five plays before punting it away.
• The defense bent, but didn't break holding the Johnnies to a 35-yard field goal making it 13-7 with 8:49 to go in the third.
• Call threw an interception on the Royals next drive before the Royals defense forced another three-and-out.
• The Royals got it right back three plays later with the Johnnies fumbling the snap with quarterback Aaron Syverson under center, but the offense couldn't get anything going.
• SJU expanded on its lead with a 74-yard touchdown reception. A middle screen pass turned into big yardage with the SJU receiver finding the sideline and winning the foot race.
• Early in the fourth, Bethel marched all the way down to the SJU 14 from their own 20 faced with 4th-and-10. Call's pass to
Micah Niewald came up just short in the endzone.
• The Johnnies added seven more points with 4:25 to go on a four play, 68-yard drive.
TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
•
Alex Call – 15-of-33, 144 yards, 8 rushes 11 yards, TD
•
Micah Niewald – 5 catches for 54 yards
•
Aaron Ellingson – 19 carries for 65 yards
Defense
•
Matt Jung – 8 tackles
•
Thomas Wurdemann – 6 tackles, 1 sack for a 10-yard loss
GAME NOTES
• Bethel loss the toss for the first time this season. Saint John's elected to receive.
•
Isaac Call captured his second INT of the season and fourth of his career.
• Bethel falls to 10-36 all-time against the Johnnies.
• The Royals defense now has seven interceptions through the first three games of the year
• SJU won the time of possession battle 30:14-29:46.
•
Will Eliason's matched a career-best 61-yard punt. He punted five times for an average of 41.6 yards.
UP NEXT
The Royals return to Royal Stadium for Homecoming taking on Gustavus Adolphus in a divisional crossover matchup on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Arden Hills.
