ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Five turnovers from the Bethel offense proved to be costly as the No. 24th-ranked Royals dropped their MIAC opener to No. 5 Saint John's, 45-20, Saturday afternoon at Royal Stadium.
Trailing 28-13 at the break, Bethel's lone second-half score was an 84-yard pick-six from
Matt Jung with 3:38 in the third making it 35-20. A pair of fourth-quarter interceptions thrown by
Cooper Drews kept the Bethel offense off the field while the Johnnies converted a 29-yard field goal and a 38-yard touchdown pass.
The Johnnies (3-0, 1-0 MIAC) outgained the Royals (2-1, 0-1 MIAC) by a 475-316 margin. On the ground, SJU held a 113-93 edge while the Johnnies threw for 362 yards and the Royals 223.
Bethel's defense was on the field most of the day as the Johnnies possessed it for 40:06 compared to BU's 19:48.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
• The teams traded scores finding the end zone on each of their first possessions. SJU's 12-play 69-yard game-opening drive resulted in a 15-yard touchdown snag.
• Bethel answered two plays later with an unfamiliar face on offense as
Matt Jung caught a wide-open deep pass at SJU's 34-yard line and ran it in for the 69-yard connection from Drews.
• The Johnnies chewed off another four minutes using a couple of big plays to get into the red zone before Caden Wheeler rushed it in from four yards out.
• Drews threw his first interception of the day as
Joey Kidder slipped on the route making for an easy grab by the Johnnies' defender. Working from the Bethel 14-yard line SJU scored four plays later.
• Saint John's extended its lead to 28-7 with 11:10 left in the half.
• With five minutes to go before the break
Matt Jung forced a fumble that was recovered by
Noah Richards, but the BU drive ended on an interception four plays later.
• In their longest drive of the day, Bethel took 15 plays to go 88 yards and ended with an
Ethan Sailer touchdown on a short pass from Drews.
2nd Half
• While Bethel punted on their opening drive of the second half, Saint John's scored on theirs making it 35-13.
• On the Johnnies' next drive, Jung notched his fifth interception of the year returning it to the house bringing the Royals within 35-20.
• The defense got the stop they needed as the Johnnies punted to start the fourth.
• Another miscue by the Royals on a screenplay saw the Johnnies pick off Drews at the Bethel 28-yard line and set up short field distance. SJU converted that turnover into points with a 29-yard field goal.
• Bethel's miscues continued on their next drive as a fumbled handoff was immediately jumped on by the Johnnies who then took seven plays for a 38-yard touchdown reception score.
• Drew's final interception came in the closing minute airing it out into the end zone where the 27-yard pass was taken out of the hands of
Joey Kidder.
TOP PERFORMERS
Offense
•
Cooper Drews – 20-of-35, 223 yards, 2 touchdowns
•
Joey Kidder – 10 catches, 86 yards
Defense
•
Matt Jung – 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT
GAME NOTES
• Bethel won the toss and deferred their choice to the second half. SJU received.
• Saturday's crowd of 6,982 was the seventh largest crowd at Royal Stadium.
•
Joey Kidder moved into second all-time with 2,825 receiving yards.
• SJU now leads the all-time series 10-37.
UP NEXT
Bethel hits the road for another cross-divisional matchup on Saturday, Oct. 5 traveling to Gustuavs Adolphus. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
