SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The ground game was good to the No. 12 Bethel University football team as they accumulated 300 yards and eight touchdowns, while their run game defense allowed just 13 yards and no touchdowns in a 62-12 road victory over Hamline University at Klas Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Royals move to 3-0, 2-0 MIAC, while the Pipers fall to 1-2, 0-2 MIAC.
Bethel 62, Hamline 12
Eight-of-nine Bethel touchdowns occurred via their ground game. Their first two touchdowns came from David Geebli from four, and two yards out to put them in front 14-0 with 12:55 remaining in the second quarter. Taye Manns, who finished the game with 163Â yards on 13 carries, scored the game's next three touchdowns from 68, one, and 12 yards to give Bethel a 34-0 lead with 3:45 on the third-quarter clock.
The fourth quarter resulted in 40 points between both squads. Bethel accounted for 28 of those points behind a seven-yard run from Geebli, Cooper Drews' one-yard touchdown pass to Albert Rundell, a one-yard scamper from Caden Boersma, and Ian Burkman's five-yard score that solidified a 62-12 victory.
In addition to Manns' team-high 163 yards rushing, Geebli added 74 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries for the Royals.Â
Bethel quarterback Cooper Drews finished 14-of-25 for 184 yards and one touchdown. ten of those completions went to Albert Rundell, who accumulated 152Â yards and one touchdown. Phil Conant registered a team-leading 11 tackles for the Royals, which included four sacks for a loss of 27Â yards. Thomas Rush added five tackles.
Hamline quarterbacks Zayden Stevens and Jacob Aki combined for 32-of-60Â passing for 432Â yards and two touchdowns. Dawson Schaffer and D'Nari Adams each had 10 catches for the Pipers. Schaffer's performance included 210 yards and one touchdown.
The No. 12 Royals will host No. 4 Saint John's at Royal Stadium on Saturday, October 4 at 1 p.m.
