ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College football team hosted Bethel University for the first time since 2000 in a MIAC Skyline Division game Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The Royals, ranked 11th in Division III, came away with a 63-13 victory over the Scots, who are now 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the division. Bethel (6-1) remains in first place in the Skyline Division with a 3-0 record.

The Royals scored touchdowns on eight of their 10 full possessions and outgained Macalester, 544 yards to 233 yards in total offense.

However, the Scots' defense showed up on Bethel's first possession, as sophomore defensive back Cameron Latvis (West St. Paul, Minn./Two Rivers) intercepted a pass at midfield for the first turnover of the game. The Macalester offense was unable to take advantage of the turnover, as the Royals forced a punt and drove 46 yards on seven plays, scoring on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Jaran Roste to Micah Niewald. On the next possession, the Scots' punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Nate Farm for a 14-0 lead. In the second quarter, Roste hit Niewald for a 38-yard touchdown, and later ran for a 1-yard score. David Geebil also had a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Royals on top, 35-0.

On the Scots' last drive of the first half, junior quarterback Michael Nadeau (Garden Grove, Calif./La Quinta) completed 6-of-8 passes for 68 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Nick Bice (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) that made the halftime score 35-6.

The second half was more of the same for Bethel, as Roste and Niewald connected again on a 29-yard touchdown pass, and Geebil scored on a 1-yard plunge for a 49-6 lead. Matt Teigland ran for touchdowns of 17 and 25 yards in the fourth quarter, sandwiched around Macalester's second touchdown of the day. Nadeau threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Nathan Wu (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) to complete a 9-play, 65-yard drive. Senior receiver Ty Bruckner (Bel Aire, Kan./Wichita North) caught a 43-yard pass from Nadeau to help set up the score.

Nadeau was 24-of-42 for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Senior receiver Rex Desso (Evergreen, Colo./Lakewood) caught eight passes for 79 yards, while Wu, junior running back Logan Pampel (Johnson Creek, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran School) and first year running back Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) each had four receptions. On defense, Latvis finished with eight tackles and an interception. Senior defensive back Joshua Strickler (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield), junior linebacker Noah Bresson (Homosassa, Fla./Crystal River) and junior defensive back Will Brazgel (Hartland, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran) had five tackles apiece. Roste threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, Niewald caught six passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns, and Teigland ran for 77 yards and two scores.

Next week Macalester takes on Hamline University in the battle for the Old Paint Bucket on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Skyline Division game starts at 1:00 p.m. at Klas Field.