You know, people always ask me: “How are things going this year with the Clarion?” And sometimes I don’t know quite what to say. 

I’ll get real. I don’t entirely feel like I know what I’m doing. I love covering sports. I love writing these columns to keep you guys informed and entertained. But I’m the only one doing it. And it’s hard to be the only one covering all the Bethel sports action. 

And still the show must go on. Once you’ve read this article, you will be in between the sixth and seventh installment of Penner’s Pen, and that’s something. I hope those that read it enjoy it. Let’s jump into this busy week. 

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Football (7-0, 6-0): Air attack wins again

Right now you’re thinking: Oh boy, I’m so excited to hear Aiden’s analysis of the football game because this one was a home game and he goes to ALL the home games. 

And after the next sentence you’re going to think: WHAT?! Aiden, do you even LIKE football? What is wrong with you?

I had to choose between football and men’s soccer this week, and I chose men’s soccer. I do like football. I just opted for the European version instead at the men’s soccer match. We all knew the football score was going to be 53-0, or somewhere around there. Macalester is now 1-5 in-conference – exactly the kind of team of which Bethel takes advantage. 

But that doesn’t make it less impressive. Another career day from quarterback Cooper Drews, who led the team in passing and rushing, meant another incredible offensive performance by the Royals. 

Drews threw 34 passes, completing 26 of them for 306 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw a late-first-quarter interception, but certainly made up for it with his performance on the ground: four carries for 82 yards and a score, including a 69-yarder midway through the first quarter. 

Receiver Albert Rundell, the star of last week’s blowout, led the way again for Bethel receivers. He snagged 10 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Aiden Eckert caught 13 of his own for 97 yards and two touchdowns, as well. 

Ultimately, the Royals had their way with the Scots in basically every category. 520 total yards to 151. 23 first downs to 10. Seven for seven on red zone chances to zero for zero. 

The defense can’t be overlooked for this domination either. The Royals’ first shutout of the season came from 10 tackles by linebacker Jake Borman, an interception from defensive back Nick Colyer and a sack each by linemen Caleb Taylor and Phil Conant as well as linebacker Jace Fadden. 

Next week Bethel heads west to Concordia for what is always a testing road trip. Then it’s Carleton – possibly the toughest test of the Royals’ season. 

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Volleyball (11-8, 5-2): Long week pays off

I love to overreact to this volleyball team. One loss has me thinking the season is over and a single win makes me dream of a MIAC championship. The loss to Gustavus was no exception. I hoped they would compete in that game, regardless of a win or loss, but instead the Royals rolled over in an out-paced sweep. 

So my expectations for this three-game week weren’t exactly in the rafters of Benson Great Hall. And once again, I’ve been proven wrong. 

First, the Royals trekked down to Waverly, Iowa to take on Wartburg College Wednesday. This was the one I thought would surely go awry, albeit  it wasn’t as meaningful as a conference game. 

Instead, Bethel took the first two sets and finished the win in five. Yeah, Wartburg made it interesting, scary even, in the third and fourth sets, but it’s resilience that gets the job done in five-set matches. And Bethel was resilient in that 17-15 final set win. 

Freshman hitter Sara Scherber achieved a career-high 17 kills in that match, followed by sophomore Hannah Penke’s 14 and junior middle blocker Peyton Howie’s 12. 

Say it with me this time: Sophia Rubio. The freshman setter added 43 assists. 

Then came another road test at Hamline Friday, where the Royals took care of business in three sets. Interestingly enough, each of those sets ended with a final score of 25-23. Resilience once again from the Royals. 

Bethel spread the wealth in limited attempts, as Howie led with 13 kills and Penke with nine. 

Finally, a home match against conference-winless Macalester Saturday evening. It looked dicey for the Royals considering the Scots’ record and overall composure. But it’s also understandable if Bethel was a bit tired after such a long week. 

I got nervous at points in the Macalester game. Whether it was fatigue or simply an off night, Rubio and her hitters struggled to connect the way I’ve seen them do it this season. 

Howie hit at an unusually low .189 with six errors, but still added a routine 13 kills. Instead, it was the gunslinging Penke leading the way offensively for 15 kills on just two errors. And she made it a double-double with 17 digs. 

Even Rubio, in the midst of her 42 assists, added a kill after a wonky return set from Howie put Rubio in position to dunk the ball over the net and onto the ground. 

The Royals managed a four-set win over Macalester, making their week a perfect 3-0 as they begin the final stretch of the season. They sit at fourth in the conference with four games to play, including one against the College of Saint Benedict, which sits at third, November 1. 

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Men’s soccer (9-4-3, 5-3-1): Offensive onslaught wins Royals’ revenge match

As I journeyed across Bethel’s campus, past County E and into the Ona Orth Athletic Complex, I sensed a nostalgia in the air. The weather was eerily similar to November 4, 2024, when Carleton College bounced the Royals 5-2 in Bethel’s first home MIAC playoff game in program history. 

Cold, overcast, breezy, a little bit wet. 

So it was fitting that Bethel should play Carleton on a late fall day, in a game it needed to win. Maybe the Royals didn’t technically need to win it, but it was a crucial one as they tried to stay afloat for MIAC seeding. 

53 seconds into the game, sophomore midfielder Roy Kyle seemed to know it was an important game. After an early corner kick, Kyle, assisted by senior forward Jordan Ross and junior midfielder Nathan Hunt, found the back of the net on a low, dribbling shot past the Carleton keeper’s diving hands. 

For most of the first half, it looked like that’s all the Royals would need to win the game and tie themselves with Gustavus for fourth in the conference. They controlled everything offensively – outshooting, outsaving, out corner-kicking, even out-fouling the Knights. 

At 36:20, Ross scored his own low dribbler to put the Royals up 2-0 before Carleton answered just before half to make it 2-1. 

Bethel struggled to maintain the same level of control in the second half, but Ross scored two more goals within three minutes of each other to ease the minds of Royals fans. 

Carleton stole a goal with three minutes to go, but it wasn’t enough. Bethel took the revenge win, 4-2, to solidify its position at fourth in the MIAC with a playoff spot already clinched. 

The Royals finish their regular season this week with games versus the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Monday and a Halloween match at second-place Macalester College. 

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Women’s soccer (3-12-2, 3-6-1): Even week leads to last game

(I’m including my original draft of this section in an effort to be so real with you guys. I thought this was just a win for a hopeless team at the end of its season. I was so wrong.)

Bethel went to Saint Catherine University Wednesday and lost 3-0 before hosting Carleton Saturday and taking a 2-1 win. 

Senior forward Malia Beilby scored her fifth goal of the season 36 minutes into the first half, as Sarah Motalebi and Natalie Daniels assisted. Junior forward Motalebi scored her own goal, assisted by Eva Patenaude, 76 minutes into the game to give the Royals the lead and the win. 

Bethel finishes its season Saturday at Macalester. 

(Now begins the part after I was told this was a massive upset. Shoutout to Ali Hoerer and Jessica Oliver.) 

Yeah, I might be the world’s worst sports editor. I did not do my prior research or even proper post-research on this game. 

Bethel just handed Carleton its first regular season conference loss since 2021. And it was electric, complete with a game-winning goal from Motalebi. I’m sorry I didn’t stay to watch it. What a special way to end the home season for a team that hasn’t had much to celebrate on the field. Congratulations, ladies. 

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The weather is getting cold. The heat is on in the dorms. I’m getting excited for snow; is that bad? 

And that means playoffs are around the corner for our glorious Bethel sports. What better time to hop on the Double Coverage and Penner’s Pen train than now? CHOO CHOO! The train is leaving the station. Don’t get left behind. 

Until next time, invite your family to a Royals volleyball match, try an escape room and listen to Caamp. 

Love y’all.