SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College football team hosted the No. 12 nationally ranked Bethel University Royals on Saturday in their home opener at Hollingsworth Field, falling 41-7.
The Gusties and Royals battled back and fourth through the opening quarter, with Bethel eventually getting on the scoreboard first with a 29-yard field goal with just 1:22 remaining in the opening frame.
The Royals offense found a rhythm in the second quarter, scoring on three consecutive drives to go up 24-0 at the half.
In the third quarter, Bethel scored again to go up 31-0. On the next drive for the Royals, however, linebacker
Colton Loeschke picked off Bethel at midfield and ran the ball back 41 yards to Bethel's 12-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback
Dylan Blount took the direct snap and handed the ball off to running back
Alex Gross, who then pitched it to
Dom Mathies on a reverse while Blount ran uncovered toward the endzone, where Mathies found him through the air for a touchdown pass to put the Gusties on the board.
The Royals went on to score another touchdown and make a 22-yard field goal while their defense held off the Gusties to secure a 41-7 win.
Blount led Gustavus through the air, completing 17-of-23 for 103 yards while scoring a touchdown on the ground.
Walker Hennen had 27 yards receiving on two catches. Loeschke had 10 total tackles and a pass breakup to go with his 41-yard interception return.
Owen Forsythe punted for 443 yards with an average of 40.3 yards per punt and a long of 50 yards.
Up next for the Gusties is a trip up to Moorhead to battle Concordia on Saturday, September 27 at 1:00 p.m.
