ARDEN HILLS, Minn. –  With 148 receiving yards on the day, fifth-year wide receiver Joey Kidder became the Royals' all-time receiving yards leader with 3,067 career yards. Holding a 518-to-166 total yards of offense edge, the Bethel University football team rolled over Augsburg Saturday afternoon at Royal Stadium, 73-8.
 
The Royals threw for 353 yards and ran for 165 while limiting the Auggies to nine net rushing yards and 157 through the air. BU's defense was in midseason form with two fumble recovers, with one returned for a touchdown and two interceptions, one being a pick-six.
 
Scoring on nine of its 12 drives, Bethel's offense was led by Aaron Ellingson who notched a career-high four rushing touchdowns. Micah Niewald accounted for two touchdown snags while Kidder and Ethan Sailer each had one.

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
•  Receiving the game's opening kickoff Bethel had one of its longer drives of the year as Ellingson strutted in from two yards out to finish an eight-play, 70-yard drive that chewed up 3:20.
• The Royals put up two more first-quarter scores as Cooper Drews connected with Niewald in the flat for a 47-yard score while Kidder added a 50-yard catch and score on the first play of BU's third drive.
• Aaron Ellingson added a 49-yard rushing touchdown in the early parts of the second before Matt Jung snagged his sixth interception of the season putting the offense back on the field three plays later.
• That turnover turned into points as Cooper Drews found Sailer in the flat who then worked past a few Auggie defenders before diving into the end zone.
• Ellingson added his third touchdown to go up 42-0 with 4:08 left in the half.
• Bethel got one more score before the break as Hunter Pratt punched the ball loose from the Auggies ball carrier and Caden DeWall scooped and scored for the 26-yard fumble return making it 49-0.
 
2nd Half
• Ellingson fourth score of the game from a yard out with 7:41 to go in the third.
• A blocked punt by Kolin Baier gave BU good field position setting up a 19-yard touchdown grab by Micah Niewald from Drews three plays later.
• The Auggies denied BU of a third straight shutout with a penalty-aided six-play, 39-yard scoring drive. Augsburg converted on the two-point conversion.
• Hugo Cifuentes added a 21-yard field goal with 9:58 left in the game.
• Bethel's final score of the game came on the defensive end as Jackson Braun notched his first collegiate interception and returned it 11 yards to the end zone.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
• Cooper Drews – 15-of-19, 286 yards, 4 TDs
• Aaron Ellingson – 9 carries, 85 yards, 4 TDs
• Micah Niewald – 4 catches for 88 yards, 2 TDs
• Joey Kidder – 8 catches for 148 yards, 1 TD
 
Defense
• Matt Jung – 7 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 INT
• Caden DeWall – 5 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
 
GAME NOTES
• Augsburg won the toss and deferred their choice to the second half. Bethel received.
• For the sixth time this season Bethel held its opponent under its season rushing average as Augsburg entered averaging 79.4 yards a game.
• Micah's 88 receiving yards moved his career total to 2,803 tying for third all-time with Mitch Hallstrom.
• Bethel now has 13 interceptions on the year, two of which have been returned for a touchdown.
• With three sacks, BU's season total moves to 24 which ties for the most in a season since 2019 when the Royals had 33 in 10 games.
• The 73 points scored by the Royals is the most in a game since BU's 75-0 victory over the Auggies on Nov. 3, 2018.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals travel down Snelling Ave. to Hamline for a 1 p.m. kickoff with the Pipers on Saturday, Oct. 26. Read Full Article