KICKOFF COVERAGE
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Skyline Division play kicks off Saturday as the Bethel University football team hosts Macalester at Royal Stadium for a Homecoming showdown set for 1 p.m. in Arden Hills.
SERIES HISTORY
Series:Â BU leads 24-10
Last:Â Â Bethel won 49-14 (Oct. 7, 2023) in St. Paul, Minn.
• The Royals and Scots meet on the gridiron for the 35th all-time meeting on Saturday afternoon. It's only the sixth meeting since 2000 while BU is riding a 16-game winning streak on MAC. The series saw an 18-year hiatus (2002-2020) until the Scots rejoined the MIAC in football beginning with the 2021 season. In the last four matchups, BU has outscored Macalester 208-43.
ROYAL NOTES
• The Royals (3-1, 1-1 MIAC) return home after a decisive 43-0 victory at Gustavus Adolphus last Saturday while Macalester (0-4, 0-2 MIAC) is in search of its first win after falling at St. Scholastica 30-28 on a last-second field goal.
• Since 1980 the Royals are 26-17 in Homecoming games. The first-ever game in Royal Stadium was on Homecoming in 1996 with a 41-7 win over Concordia, since then the Royals are 21-5. It will be the fourth time the Gusties and Scots clash on Homecoming where BU won all three previous matches with the most recent being on Oct. 6, 1990.
• With a pair of interceptions against the Johnnies, BU has seven INTs through the first three games, tying the most since 2004 (nine in the first three games), after getting seven in three games during the 2023 year. That mark ranks seventh nationally.
• Bethel's front line tallied nine sacks at Gustavus making it the most in a game since Nov. 17, 2018 when the Royals had 10 against Wartburg in the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs. In four games the Royals have a national-leading 20 sacks averaging five a game.
• Caden DeWall was named MIAC Defensive Player of the Week after sacking the Gusties quarterback a career-high 3.5 times for a total of 19 yards. DeWall finished with six tackles, four of which were solo. He ranks seventh nationally averaging 1.5 sacks a game.
BY THE NUMBERS
6.0 – BU's defense leads the nation in rushing defense giving up an average 6.0 yards per game.
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10 – The Royals are third nationally with 10 interceptions on the year. BU snagged three INTs at Gustavus.
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6 – Adding three rushing touchdowns on Saturday, Aaron Ellingson now has six TDs on the year ranking 24th nationally.
SHOUTOUT FOR THE SHUTOUT
• Blanking Gustuavs 43-0 on Oct. 5, Bethel recorded its 11th shutout in the last 10 seasons and third in the last two.
• BU's shutout of Eau Claire in 2023 was the first since 2019. It was one of two shutouts last season.
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STOPPING THE RUN GAME
• Bethel leads Division III in rushing defense giving up a minimal 6.0 yards per game.Â
• Allowing -22 rushing yards to the Gusties, it was the third time this year BU held its opponent in the negative rushing range.
• In 2023 BU held its opponents under 100 yards rushing in seven games.
• Since 2022, the Royals are 14-1 when holding its opponent to less than 100 yards on the ground.
• In nine games this year, BU kept its opponent under its season-average rushing mark.
• In all four games this season, the Royals have held their opponent below their season average entering the game.
DREWS DROPPING DIMES
• Sophomore quarterback Cooper Drews shinned in his second collegiate game through for 294 yards on 30-of-41 passing against UWEC. Drews aired out five TD passes and rushed in for two scores himself.
• With a 71.1 completion percentage this season, Drews ranks 12th nationally and second in the MIAC.
• Drews has 11 TD passes on the year ranking third in the MIAC and 34th nationally.
STRONG SECONDARY
• For the second time this season, Bethel had three interceptions on Saturday at Gustavus Adolphus. With 10 picks on the year Bethel ranks third nationally behind Rochester (11) and Ohio Wesleyan (10).
• The Royals started the 2023 season with seven interceptions in the first three games. That matched the seven in the first three games of the 2024 season, the most in that stretch since 2004 when the Royals had nine.
• Finishing with 21 INTs in 2023, Bethel finished fifth nationally.
• Matt Jung led the team with seven INTs, the most by a Royal since 2007, finishing the season with the second most in Division III. For the 2024 season, Jung has five.
MAKE WAY FOR ELLINGSON
• Aaron Ellingson enters as the Royals top running back after recording a rushing touchdown in five of the final six games in 2023.
• Adding three scores at Gustavus, it's the third time in his career with three rushing TDs. Two of those performances have now come against the Gusties with the other being in the 2023 MIAC Championship game. times in his career Ellingson has recorded a three-rushing touchdown performance.
• His six rushing touchdown leads the MIAC and is 24th nationally.
>>>Â READ BETHEL'S COMPLETE GAME NOTES BY CLICKING HERE.
GAMEDAY HAPPENINGS
GRAB YOUR BU GEAR!
Visit the Bethel athletics marketing table on the concourse to pick up your 2023 game schedule poster. You can also purchase authentic Bethel gear and retro jerseys all for under $10 each! In addition purchase your WHITEOUT game day t-shirt. Gear sales will be cash only.
CHICK-FIL-A IN THE HOUSE
Fans be sure to stop by the Chick-Fil-A tent on the concourse for a chance to win free Chick-Fil-A and be sure to sign up for the halftime challenge. Chicken sandwiches will also be for sale at the concession stand. Download the Chick-Fil-A one app and receive a free digital sandwich card if the Royals get a pick on Saturday!Â
HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND
Check out all the happenings for Homecoming and Family weekend >>Â www.bethel.edu/events/homecoming
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