KICKOFF COVERAGE
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Bethel University football team hits the road for the first time in conference play and second this season, heading down Highway 169 to Saint Peter for a cross-divisional matchup with Gustavus Adolphus. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Series:Â BU leads 29-17
Last:Â Â Bethel won 31-7 (Nov. 11, 2023) in Arden Hills (MIAC Championship)
• The Royals and Gusties meet on the gridiron for the 47th time on Saturday. Bethel has won 15 straight over GAC after picking up a 31-7 victory in the 2024 MIAC Championship game. In nine of the last 10 games, the Royals have put up at least 30 points and have held the Gusties to under 20 in five of those. In St. Peter, BU is 13-9 all-time with the last road loss coming in 2005.
ROYAL NOTES
• The Royals are coming off a 45-20 MIAC-opening loss to No. 5 Saint John's while the Gusties enter on a two-game winning streak after picking up a 28-0 road victory at Augsburg.
• 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.
• With 11 sacks this season, it's the most by the Royals in the first three games since 2012 when BU had 13 in the same stretch. BU ranks fourth in the MIAC and 22nd nationally averaging 3.67 sacks a game.Â
• Matt Jung was the standout last week for Bethel totaling a career-high 14 tackles while adding in a pick-six that he returned for 84 yards in the third quarter. Jung made a splash right away in last Saturday's game lining up on offense and catching what would be a 69-yard touchdown reception, the first of Jung's collegiate career.
• Taylor Glynn notched a career-high 10 tackles against the Johnnies recording 0.5 tackles for loss.
• Bethel's sack leader Jacob Holmen had a pair of sacks against SJU totaling a loss of 21 combined yards. He currently ranks fifth in the MIAC averaging a sack per game.
BY THE NUMBERS
14.7 – BU's defense leads the nation in rushing defense giving up an average 14.7 yards per game.
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5 – Matt Jung leads the nation with five INTs after having two in each of the first two Royals' games and a pick-six against SJU.
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15 – Bethel has won the last 15 meetings with the Gusties.
NEW YEAR, NEW RULESÂ
• Fans will notice a bit of a change this year in a few rules for Division III Football. The most noticeable to fans will be that the game clock will continue to run when a first down is gained in bounds.
• This year a Two-Minute Timeout, similar to the two-minute warning in the NFL, will be instituted in the second and fourth quarters. If the ball is live when the game clock reaches two minutes in the second and fourth quarters, the play will continue, and the Referee shall stop the clock when the ball is subsequently declared dead for a Two Minute Timeout.
• Expanded playoffs have come to Division III football with 40 teams reaching the postseason compared to last year's 32 teams. There will still be 28 automatic conference qualifiers, pool A teams, while the pool c teams, or at-large bids, have expanded from four to 12.Â
STRONG SECONDARY
• The Royals started the 2023 season with seven interceptions in the first three games. They've matched that mark with seven in the first three games of the 2024 season. It's 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.Â
• Through the first three games of the 2024 season, Bethel's seven interceptions lead the MIAC and is tied for seventh nationally.
JUMPING FOR JUNG
• Sophomore Matt Jung leads the Bethel defense with five interceptions on the year, two coming in each of the first two games.
• He leads the nation with five INTs and his biggest of the season so far came against UWEC picking off a potential game-tying pass in the endzone late in the fourth as the Blugolds had it first and goal from the two. He added an 84-yard pick-six against the Johnnies in the third pulling BU within 35-20.
• Jung is second in the MIAC and 11th nationally with 2.0 passes defended per game.
KEEPING UP WITH KIDDER
• Graduate wide receiver Joey Kidder moved into second all-time in Bethel history with 2,825 receiving yards, after having 86 yards against SJU. He is 176 yards shy of tying the program record held by Jeremy Belisle.
• With a career-high four touchdown grabs against UWEC, Kidder became the Royals' all-time touchdown reception leader with 31. He surpassed Bryce Marquardt who had 29 from 2013-17.
• His four TD grabs against UWEC tied the program's single-game record as he became the fifth Royal to have that many in a game and the first since Bryce Marquardt at Augsburg in 2014. He now has nine career multi-touchdown games.
• With 126 reception yards against the Blugolds, it marked the 12th time in his career with 100-plus receiving yards. His career-high 196 yards came at Concordia on Oct. 15, 2022. Â
A HISTORIC TRADITION
• Bethel football is playing in its 76th season, as the program began in 1947 under the direction of head coach Arch Skalbeck. The Royals have amassed a 370-338-7 record (.522) since the program's inception, which includes a 226-80 mark (.738) since 1994. BU has won six MIAC championships, appeared in 12 NCAA Playoffs and won two NCAA region titles.
>>>Â READ BETHEL'S COMPLETE GAME NOTES BY CLICKING HERE.
