ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Macalester College football team opened MIAC Skyline Division play with a 59-0 loss to 24th-ranked Bethel University Saturday afternoon at Royal Stadium. The Scots are now 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the division, while the Royals improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Skyline.

On the second play of the game, senior defensive back Justin Potts (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) intercepted a pass by Cooper Drews at the Macalester 8-yard line. The Scots eventually were forced to punt from their own 3-yard line, and Matt Jung returned it 43 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The Royals dominated from that point on, scoring on their next four possessions in the first quarter to lead 35-0. A touchdown on Bethel's first possession of the second quarter made the score 42-0, then the Royals capped a 22-play drive with a field goal to take a 45-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Royals scored a touchdown in each quarter to complete the scoring and take a 59-0 victory. The Scots' most successful drive came after Bethel's final score. Sophomore receiver Brian Maddox (Alexandria, Va./Georgetown Preparatory School) returned the kickoff 46 yards to the 50-yard line. The drive included a 3-yard run by junior running back Vasco Sierra (Chicago, Ill./DePaul College Prep) on fourth down and one, and a 9-yard completion from first year quarterback Jack Scully (Menlo Park, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) to Maddox. Sierra's 4-yard run gave Macalester its third first down of the drive, but the drive stalled at the Bethel 23-yard line on downs.

Offense was hard to come by for the Scots, who gained just 79 yards of total offense against a Bethel defense that held Gustavus to 67 yards last week. Scully completed 10-of-19 for 40 yards and an interception, while Maddox and senior running back Josh Bulski (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) each caught four passes. Defensively, sophomore defensive back Boaz Lieberman (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and first year linebacker Dylan Jeppe (Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) each had 12 tackles, with junior defensive back Jacob Degnan (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) making eight tackles.

Drews threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, while David Geebli rushed for 70 yards and two touchdowns to lead Bethel.

Macalester continues Skyline Division play with a home game against Gustavus on Saturday, Oct. 19. The game starts at 1:00 p.m. at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium.