Royals rumble past Foresters and into the third round of playoffs

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — As late November turns to early December, the days get shorter, the nights longer and the temperature begins to drop. For the Bethel University football team it also means competition continues to ramp up as the Royals hosted Lake Forest College Saturday at Royal Stadium in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. 

With the second round of the playoffs falling during Thanksgiving break, a change of holiday plans for the players and coaching staff was necessary, but welcomed. 

“Thanksgiving practices are fun because it means you get to be together,” head coach Mike McElroy said. “It means you’re playing good football if you’re practicing Thanksgiving morning.”

After an early morning practice, the Royals relaxed Thanksgiving night and didn’t hit the field again until Friday afternoon. It was as much a holiday rest as it was a way to keep bodies fresh deep into the season. 

“I don’t know how many weeks in a row these guys have been running into each other,” McElroy said. “But [we’re] trying to keep guys as fresh as we can and sharp mentally.” 

Game time highs reached just 19 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chills in the single digits. 

The Foresters started the game on offense and attempted to convert a fourth and one near midfield, and sixth-year running back AJ Jackson took an inside zone handoff up the middle for 40 yards and into the endzone. 

The Royals settled for a field goal on their opening drive of the game and with their second drive in danger of stalling out, the punt team took a gamble. Running back Aaron Ellingson called for a direct snap and rushed up the middle for 14 yards to keep the drive alive. 

“We kind of talked this week that if we get a certain look that I can audible to the fake punt,” Ellingson said. “And got a look that I wasn’t necessarily expecting… I’m like, ‘Hey, we better get this.’ ” 

Quarterback Cooper Drews capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown strike to senior Joey Kidder and the Royals had their first lead of the game. 

The Foresters continued to battle, as senior quarterback Josh Gasca released the ball quickly, negating the Royals pass rush and taking a one-point lead into halftime. 

 “Coach [Cantazaro] uses a thing, it’s called free real estate,” Gasca said. “If it’s open just take it. Take the short yards and we’ll keep going from there.” 

The Royals got the ball to start the second half, stalling out immediately and being forced to punt. On second and five, Gasca botched a handoff to running back Taylen Goodwin and Bethel defensive lineman Noah Richards was right there to scoop up the loose ball and set up the Royals’ offense on the Forester 30-yard line. 

The Bethel offense capitalized immediately, as Aaron Ellingson punched it in from five yards out to regain the lead.

“The [defense] brought us back into that football game,” Drews said. “They gave us some energy back and after that we were able to get rolling.” 

Senior edge rusher Caden DeWall then blocked a punt. Linebacker Jacob Holmen did the rest, taking it 18 yards to the endzone for a 34-14 lead to end the third quarter. 

Early in the fourth, DeWall once again broke through the Foresters line and blocked a punt. This time senior defensive back Nate Farm picked up the loose change to set the Royals up on the Lake Forest 20-yard line. 

Three plays later Cooper Drews completed a 17-yard strike to wide receiver Micah Niewald, to cap a 35-7 second half and make it 48-21. 

 “I think you look at that game right there and special teams really changed the tide,” McElroy said. “And our guys responded.” 

The win concludes the Royals’ home portion of the 2024 schedule, as they now head to Waverly, Iowa to battle with the 11th-ranked Wartburg College Knights.

Winners of the American Rivers Conference, the Knights defeated the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers 19-14 Saturday to advance to the third round of the NCAA playoffs. 

“Those guys are going to be super well-coached,” McElroy said. “They’re going to be physical, they want it to be a rock fight.”

The two squads are familiar with one another, with this being their 10th matchup with each other. In 2023 the Royals hosted the Knights to open the regular season, losing 16-2. 

This is the fourth all-time playoff matchup between the two schools, with the last coming in November of 2018. The Royals came away victorious 41-14. 

“It’ll be a fun opportunity for revenge and a fun road trip,” Ellingson said. “We haven’t had many of those.” 

Kickoff is set for Saturday Dec. 7 at noon at Walston-Hoover Stadium in Waverly.