No. 16 Bethel (6-2, 6-1 MIAC) at Carleton (5-3, 5-2 MIAC)
Date/Time	Saturday, November 7 at 12 p.m.
Location	Northfield, Minn. | Laird Stadium
Live Stream	Carleton Sports Network
Live Stats	https://athletics.carleton.edu/sidearmstats/football/summary
Bethel	Game Notes
Social Media	Twitter | Football Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

 

SERIES

Bethel leads the all-time series 38-17 dating back to 1983. The Royals have a whopping 14-game win streak in their series with the Knights heading into Saturday's game. Carleton's last victory over the Royals was by a 17-14 decision on September 20, 2008 at Royal Stadium.

COACHES

Bethel's Mike McElroy (3rd year at BU and as a head coach: 29-6) // Carleton's Tom Journell (9th year at CAR: 44-34, and 19th year as a head coach: 95-83. Six Seasons at UW-Stevens Point from 2012-17: 29-31, and Four Seasons at Elmhurst from 2004-07: 22-18)

QUICK HITS

• The Royals extended their win streak to four games following a 34-28 victory over Concordia (Minn.) on October 31. The victory moved the Royals up from No. 52 on the October 24 NPI, to No. 43 on the November 1 NPI. Concordia fell from No. 42 on the October 24 NPI, to No. 63 on the November 1 NPI following last Saturday's result.

• Following last week's win over the Cobbers, BU moved up from No. 17 on the Week 8 AFCA Coaches Poll, to No. 16 on the Week 9 Poll. The D3football.com Coaches Poll had the Royals stay at No. 16 from Week 8 to Week 9.

• Last week's six-point 34-28 decision over Concordia marked Bethel's closest margin of victory since November 23, 2024, when they defeated Coe by five points 31-26 in the NCAA Division III Championship First Round at Royal Stadium.

• The Royals are 29-2 in the month of October dating back to the 2019 season.

• BU is 14-5 in November games dating back to 2020, which includes a six-game win streak dating back to November 16, 2024, when they fell 41-33 to Saint John's in the MIAC Championship Game.

• Bethel, who is fourth in the country with 48.6 points scored per game, scored 40+ points in 5-of-8 games this season. This included record-setting performances in a 77-0 victory over Hamline on September 26, and an 82-7 win at St. Olaf on October 17.

• The Royals received November 2 MIAC Players of the Week on both sides of the ball courtesy of David Geebli (offensive) and Fisher Ganske (defensive). The first time that happened since September 23, 2024 when Matt Jung (defense) and Joey Kidder (offense) did it.

ABOUT THE ROYALS

BU is in pursuit of their fifth-straight win. They are coming off a 34-28 home victory over Concordia on October 31, which put them in sole possession of second place. Bethel has scored 56.5 points per game in that four-game win streak, which included a single-game school record points scored in an 82-7 win at St. Olaf on October 17.

David Geebli leads the MIAC with 7.53 rushing yards per carry (8th Division III), 11 rushing touchdowns (16th Division III), 9.8 points per game (19th Division III), 806 rushing yards, 100.8 rushing yards per game (33rd Division III), 13 total touchdowns (17th Division III), and 78 total points scored (17th Division III). Taye Manns comes in at No. 2 in the MIAC with 548 rushing yards, and No. 3 with 68.5 rushing yards per game. Manns and Geebli spearhead a BU ground game that is seventh in NCAA Division III with 279.8 rushing yards per game.

Quarterback Cooper Drews has completed 172-of-275 (62.55%) passes for 1879 and 20 touchdowns over eight starts. His 1,879 passing yards (31st Division III), 20 passing touchdowns (15th Division III), 275.6 yards of total offense (20th Division III) and 21.50 completions per game (15th Division III) is second in the MIAC. Wide reciever Albert Rundell's 8.17 receptions per game leads the MIAC and ranks sixth in the country.

Bethel's 541.0 yards of total offense per game ranks second in the country, while their 48.6 points per game is fourth nationally. The Royals offense have achieved 233 first downs, which leads the country.

Nick Colyer is second in the MIAC with 0.38 interceptions per game. Jackson Braun, who has 38 total tackles, is fourth in the MIAC with 1.30 tackles for loss per game.  Jake Borman leads the team with 44 tackles, ranks fourth in the MIAC with 1.00 passes defended per game, and sixth with 1.06 tackles for loss per game. Max Durgin is second on the team with 43 tackles. They highlight a BU defense that ranks 16th in the country with 7.9 tackles for loss per game.

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS

Carleton is coming off a 24-19 road victory at Augsburg on October 31, and have won three of their last four games. Their blemish in that time was a 49-10 loss to Saint John's on October 24. Carleton's other losses were to Gustavus 56-7 on October 3, and UW-Whitewater 69-7 on September 5. 

Quarterback Tyler Mastronardi ranks third in the MIAC with a 65.06% (108-of-166) completion percentage. He's accumulated 970 yards and eight touchdowns. Tyler Dimond leads the receivers with 44 grabs for 814 yards and seven touchdowns. Ronan Thomas paces the defense with 43 tackles, and 4.5 TFL's.