SAINT PETER, Minn. - Gustavus football is set to play Bethel University in the MIAC championship game 1 p.m. Saturday in Arden Hills. The Gusties, winners of the Northwoods Divison, enter the game 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC, while the Royals, winners of the Skyline Division, are 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the league. 

SEASON SNAPSHOT

The 2023 Gustavus football season is certainly one to remember. After starting with a pedestrian 1-3 record, including two heartbreaking back-to-back losses against Augsburg and Bethel that were decided in the final seconds of each game, the Gusties rattled off five consecutive wins to sweep the Northwoods Division and reach the MIAC championship game for the first time since the MIAC went to its current divisional model. Among those divisional wins was an upset over then-No.7 nationally ranked Saint John's, marking just the third win over the Johnnies in the past 35 meetings, and a 41-40 overtime win at St. Olaf.
 
Jake Breitbach (Sr., Golden Valley) has been sensational all season long and a key component in the Gusties competing for a conference title and NCAA tournament appearance. For long stretches of the season, Breitbach led all divisions of NCAA football (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) in numerous receiving categories and enters the MIAC championship game ranked No. 2 in Division III in receiving yards per game (168.7), receptions per game (11.6), and receiving yards (1,518). In the ninth game of the season, Breitbach broke two program records. He passed Chad Arlt's 2007 season for most receptions and jumped Matthew Boyce's 2015 season for most receiving yards.
 
Breitbach wouldn't have these gaudy numbers without someone passing him the ball and George Sandven (Jr., Edina) has carried that responsibility well. Entering the MIAC championship game, Sandven ranks No. 2 in Division III in passing yards per game (343.2) and passing yards (3,089). Sandven is just the third Gustie in program history to eclipse 3,000 passing yards in a season and is within reach of passing Mitch Hendricks' 2014 record of 3,403 yards.
 
The Gustie defense has also made strides this season. Carson DeKam (Sr., Owatonna) has been the leader all year with 85 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries, and an interception entering the MIAC championship game. In the secondary, Isaiah Chambers (Sr., Houston, Texas) and Eric Lyons Jr. (So., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) each have two interceptions. And on special teams, Andrew Abegglen (Sr., Mound) set the program record for career points as a kicker, passing Gustavus Athletics Hall of Famer Ryan Boutwell '99.
 
Gustavus has a chance to win its first MIAC championship since 1987 and to do so will need to snap a 14-game losing streak against Bethel. If the Gusties accomplish that, they will be playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987 when they lost to Saint John's 7-3 in the first round. 

LAST TIME THEY MET - GUSTIES vs. ROYALS

For the second time in as many games, the Gustavus football team dropped a last minute decision – this time to Bethel – as the Royals defeated the Gusties 37-28, scoring two touchdowns in the final 19 seconds of play on Sept. 30 in Arden Hills. 

The Gusties started off strong, forcing a Bethel punt in the game's first possession, and returning with a seven-play 91-yard drive to take an early lead. The drive was highlighted by a 61-yard connection between quarterback George Sandven and Jake Breitbach, the NCAA's leading receiver. Three plays later, Sandven ran in a two-yard score and Andrew Abegglen's extra point was good, giving the Gusties a 7-0 advantage.

In the ensuing possession, Carson DeKam made his first interception of the season, stopping the Royal drive after just four plays. River Wood ran in a three-yard touchdown for the Gusties, but was called back after a hold on the play. Gustavus settled for a field goal, but the snap was fumbled and recovered by the Royals at their 35.  

The Gusties forced a three and out on the next Royal possession, and blocked the punt, but struggled to get the ball down the field. Gustavus went 13 yards in six plays to attempt a 32-yard field goal, but it was no good. The Royals proceeded to put together a 12-play 80-yard drive, scoring on a 31-yard run to even the score at 7-7. Bethel took advantage of two more Gustie turnovers, adding another score to make it 14-7 at the half.

The two teams played stout defense in the third quarter, as a 38-yard field goal from the Royals was the only scoring play. The fourth quarter had a different script, with the final four drives of the game resulting in touchdowns. 

The Gusties made a 14-play 96-yard drive to open the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to three with a one-yard scoring run from Walker Britz. The Gustavus defense forced the Royals to punt in their next possession to give the Gusties the ball back at their own 43. 

Sandven made quick work of his next drive, finding Breitbach for a diving grab to set up a 40-yard touchdown play to Matthew Carreon. The Gusties went 57 yards in three plays for their first lead of the game, 20-17.

The Royals responded with a big play of their own, scoring on a fourth down 34-yard pass to regain the lead. Carreon was the Gustie hero once more in the next possession, tallying his second touchdown of the day – a 38-yard reception – to put Gustavus ahead with 1:12 remaining. 

The Royals began to march down the field in the final minute of play, and back-to-back costly penalties by the Gusties inched them closer to the end zone. Bethel quarterback George Bolt sealed the deal for the home team with a fourth down 24-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining. A last-ditch effort by the Gusties resulted in an end zone fumble, recovered by the Royals for the 37-28 final.

The Royals edged the Gusties 398-393 in total yards and won the time of possession battle 35:54-24:06. Gustavus was penalized six times for 62 yards.

Sandven completed 24-of-35 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns. Carreon was the top target with seven catches for 154 yards, followed by Breitbach with nine for 86. Rohee Konde led the rushing attack with six carries for 39 yards, followed by Britz who totaled 32 yards and a touchdown on six attempts.

DeKam and Max Olson led the defensive effort with eight tackles apiece. DeKam added an interception, while Olson posted the game's only sack. 

THE SERIES

Saturday's game marks the 46th meeting between the Gustavus and Bethel football programs with the Royals leading the all-time series 28-17. Gustavus won the first 12 meetings from 1978-89 and Bethel has won the last 14 meetings dating back to 2009. Gustavus's last victory was Nov. 1, 2008 in Arden Hills, a 17-10 victory. John Retka scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Logan Becker with 2:57 left in the third quarter and John Ostertag hit a 27-yard field goal midway through the fourth to seal the win.

Three of the past four meetings could have gone either way in close outcomes. In 2019, the Royals erased a 27-21 deficit midway through the fourth quarter with two touchdowns within two minutes of each other for a 35-33 win. In 2022, the Royals won a back-and-forth battle 30-27 in Saint Peter, and this season the Royals scored two touchdowns in the final 19 seconds of the game to erase a 28-24 deficit for a 37-28 win. 

MIAC CHAMPIONSHIP

Gustavus is aiming for its 23rd MIAC championship with a win Saturday. Only Saint John's (36) has more MIAC titles than Gustavus followed by St. Thomas (21) and Concordia (18). Bethel is looking for its sixth MIAC title and first since 2013. Gustavus has not won a conference title since 1987 when it went 9-0 in the league. The Gusties are in contention for a conference title on the last game of the regular season for the first time since 1998. Gustavus entered the final game of the conference season 7-1 and was matched up against Saint John's, who was 8-0. A Gustie win would have shared the title with the Johnnies, but Saint John's wound up winning the game 36-13 at the Metrodome.