At the last two Bethel sporting events I attended, I donned a suit and tie. It felt incredible, not just because I got my face in front of a broadcast camera or because I felt like I looked extra attractive. I just felt like a dialed-in, professional journalist.
I know most sportswriters don’t generally wear suits to their beat coverage, but maybe we should. Regardless of whether people find it cringe or laugh at you, a suit earns you 20 respect points by default. Forget dress to impress — let’s outdress those we seek to impress.
I was impressed with some sports this week. Others, not so much. Let’s find out who.
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Football (10-0, 9-0): Season finale shutout clinches MIAC
The Royals earned a well-deserved week off next week after their 62-0 win over the College of Saint Scholastica Saturday. The victory capped off an undefeated regular season for Bethel and secured sole ownership of the MIAC title.
Although Bethel already clinched an automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament, the Saint Scholastica win almost made them a top-two seed for their region in the playoffs.
This means next week is a bye week before the Royals play the winner of Coe College and Concordia Wisconsin the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
As always in a blowout, Bethel’s offense came alive Saturday. The Royals outgained the Saints 575-227, including a rushing margin of 355-57. I am so easily impressed by football stats.
I’m encouraged by this reinstated rushing attack. On Double Coverage, Tyler and I have continually discussed how a balanced, versatile offense will give the Royals an important edge as they begin playing more volatile and physical defenses. It’s easy to shut down one facet of an offense; shutting down both is nearly impossible.
Freshman running back Taye Manns blew up the Saints’ front with eight carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns. 15.8 yards per carry sounds like pure explosiveness to me.
Junior receiver Tyler Terry took the bulk of the receiving work this week with six catches for 89 yards, while junior Albert Rundell had a slow week of seven catches for 75 yards and only four touchdowns. Pocket change for the nation’s leading receiver.
Junior quarterback Cooper Drews broke the Bethel career passing touchdowns record last week with his 71st. His four this week puts him at 75 with a whole playoff run and senior season still ahead of him.
We have to credit Bethel’s defense, of course, for a shutout victory. The Saints made it past the 50-yard line three times. The first time, Bethel allowed just five more yards and forced a punt. The second time, the Royals stood tall on fourth down at the 33 and forced a turnover-on-downs. And the final time, with the game already put away, senior safety Trevor Jones snagged an interception at the 15 to keep a zero on the scoreboard.
The NCAA seeded Bethel second in its region, so the Royals are set to play the winner of Coe College and Concordia-Wisconsin Nov. 29 at home.
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Volleyball (15-11, 7-4): Up-and-down season ends with up-and-down week
There was something special about sitting on that metal folding chair in my suit and tie in the upper level of the Robertson Center bleachers Tuesday. I felt like the most knowledgeable Royals volleyball spectator of all time as Bethel took down St. Catherine University in four sets. I interviewed both head coaches on camera, and I knew nothing could stop me.
And nothing could stop junior middle blocker Peyton Howie in that game, either. After an impressive 19-kill performance against the same Wildcats last Friday, Howie felt the need to one-up that with a 22-kill, .514 hitting percentage match to carry the Royals to the MIAC semi-finals.
Granted, as I scrolled through St. Catherine’s regular season schedule, I knew Tuesday’s playoff game would likely go the Royals’ way. The Wildcats had a losing regular-season record and not much to speak of in competing against the top teams. But the Royals’ victory over them still put me at the top of the rollercoaster of a volleyball season it’s been. I didn’t think they were ever coming down this time.
And then came the MIAC semi-final match Thursday at St. Olaf College. I knew the Oles were impressive all season. They didn’t lose a conference game. But the Royals had momentum. They had Peyton Howie and Sophia Rubio and Sara Scherber and Hannah Penke and Grace Therrien and…
25-8 first set. My jaw metaphorically hit the floor as I checked my phone near the end of a Society of Professional Journalists Intern Night at MPR in St. Paul (Star Tribune, MPR, Fox 9 and other editors were in the room. I had to keep my composure). The Royals mustered just eight points in the first set.
And then they continued to be out-hit .062 to .336 in the three-set loss. Season over. Simply have to give props to St. Olaf. It’s hard to lose when you’re hitting like that.
Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Penke won an All-MIAC nomination, as well as Howie, who also earned MIAC Player of the Year. Freshman setter Sophia Rubio was also named MIAC Rookie of the Year.
It was a joy to ride along this volleyball season. Thanks for the fun, team.
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Men’s basketball (1-1, 0-0): Physical Vikings outpace Royals
I wore my suit and tie and sat in that metal chair again Friday night. This time, I watched the Bethel men’s basketball team get dismantled by Augustana College (IL) 87-53.
There simply wasn’t much going the Royals’ way all night, save free throw percentage, where Bethel edged Augustana 66-57.
As the Vikings applied full-court pressure all 40 minutes, the Royals’ lack of size showed. They couldn’t match the physicality Augustana threw at them, and they struggled to put up the shooting needed to compete in the game.
From the floor, Bethel shot an unimpressive 32% and managed 17.9% from three, while Augustana made 55% of its shots, including shooting 33% from three.
Probably the strongest indicator of Bethel’s struggles Friday night is in the turnover numbers. The Vikings forced 20 turnovers, scoring 27 points off them, while the Royals forced just ten turnovers and scored only eight points off them.
Small ball is possible when a team is shooting well, as we saw last week against North Central. But when a team like Augustana comes to pound the Royals, shooting often falls apart.
Bethel seeks to adjust and adapt with an exhibition game Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside – Bethel head coach Gabe Miller’s former school – before the regular season continues at Buena Vista University Saturday.
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Women’s basketball (0-1, 0-0): Second-quarter fallout gives way to season-opening loss
Similar to my reaction to a 25-8 first set in volleyball, I was astounded to see a second-quarter box score of 23-4 in a basketball game.
The Royals led 16-9 in the first quarter of their 61-53 loss at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, before the shooting fell apart in the second. They made one field goal out of 12 attempts in the period.
From there, the Royals struggled to come back as the Blue Devils maintained a consistent pace of 39% shooting throughout the game.
Senior forward Alli Born led Bethel with 16 points, seven rebounds and six steals in the game.
Bethel’s season continues Nov. 25 at Concordia College (Moorhead) in a non-conference game.
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Men’s hockey (2-3-0, 0-0-0): Wisconsin road trip ends with sweep loss
Bethel traveled to Menomonie, Wisc., Friday to take on the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The game hardly stayed competitive, however, as the Blue Devils grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first period on their way to an 8-2 win.
Three of Stout’s goals came on power plays, while the Royals went scoreless in six man-advantage attempts.
The typically reliable senior Austin Ryman allowed six of the goals between the pipes before sophomore Devin Stephens relieved him for the third, allowing the last two scores.
Saturday, the Royals played a tighter game at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, but fell 3-2. The Yellowjackets jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second period before senior forward Logan Anderson put the Royals on the board with 42 seconds left in the frame.
Superior netted another at the 4:40 mark of the third to go up 3-1. The Royals emptied their net with four minutes to go, and junior forward Joe Westlund scored a minute later.
It wasn’t enough, however. The Yellowjackets maintained control for the remainder of the game to hold on.
Bethel begins MIAC play against Hamline Friday at home.
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Women’s hockey (2-2-0, 0-2-0): Wildcats sweep in MIAC-opening weekend
A 2-0 loss Friday at home versus St. Catherine University left Bethel hoping to earn its first MIAC win of the season Saturday.
The Royals went down 1-0 at the end of the first period, but junior forward Malia McKinnon and senior forward Julia Helget each scored to give the Royals a lead 2-1 in the second. Then St. Catherine scored four goals in the third period to earn a 5-2 win and weekend sweep over the Royals. Senior Lexi Holman struggled in-net, allowing all five goals.
Bethel’s MIAC season doesn’t get easier with a weekend against No. 12-ranked Hamline next.
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It’s been a long Saturday, and I’ve been plenty long-winded with this article, so I won’t keep you any longer.
Until next time, use ‘befuddled’ in a sentence, apply for an internship and do homework in someone else’s room by yourself.
Love y’all.
