Football Set To Take On Bethel In MIAC Bout Saturday

The Gustavus football team will travel to Arden Hills, Minn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, to take on the Bethel University Royals at 1:00 p.m. Gustavus enters the game with a an overall record of 3-2 and a MIAC record of 2-1, while Bethel comes in with an overall record of 5-0 and a MIAC record of 3-0.

Game Notes

The Series – Saturday’s game will be the 32^nd meeting between Gustavus and Hamline on the football field. The Gusties have a slight advantage in the all-time series, holding a record of 16-15-0 against the Royals. Last season, Bethel defeated the Gustavus 33-21 in St. Peter, Minn. In that game, Bethel’s Dusty Wahl rushed for three touchdowns as the Royals controlled the clock all afternoon, dominating the time of possession 36:06 to 23:54.

Mena Muresuk and Andre Creighton celebrate after a touchdown

Dubose Honored By MIAC – Freshman running back Jeffrey Dubose (St. Paul, Minn.) was named MIAC Football Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Gustavus’s 42-14 victory over Hamline last Saturday. Dubose rushed for 202 yards on 21 touches for an average of 9.6 yards per rush. He also scored a touchdown by way of an 85-yard scamper in the third quarter, putting the Gusties up 28-14. The Star Tribune selected Jeffrey Dubose as its player to watch in the MIAC this weekend.

Grass Stains – The Gusties will play its only game of the season on natural grass this Saturday. Royal Stadium, located on the campus of Bethel University, is only one of only three natural grass fields left in the MIAC. The other two grass playing surfaces are Carleton’s Laird Stadium and St. Olaf’s Manitou Field. In the past five seasons, the Gusties are 9-11 on grass and 19-16 on field turf. The last game Gustavus played on grass was on Nov. 14, 2009 in a 20-19 victory over Concordia in Moorhead, Minn.

The Hills – Since the two teams met for the first time in 1978, the Gusties have traveled to Arden Hills 17 times. Gustavus is 8-9 all-time in Bethel’s house, yet the Royals have won the four of the last five meetings in Royal Stadium dating back to the 2000 season. The last Gustavus win in Royal Stadium came on Nov. 1, 2008 in a 17-10 victory.

Peter Haugen will lead the Gusties against his alma mater Bethel Saturday

Test Time – The Gustavus football team will be put to the test in its next three MIAC contests. The Gusties will face three of the top MIAC teams in Bethel, Saint John’s, and St. Thomas in consecutive weeks. Saint John’s just recently fell out of the top-25, while Bethel ranks 24^th and St. Thomas ranks fourth. Both Bethel (5-0) and St. Thomas (6-0) remain the only undefeated teams remaining in the MIAC.

Becker Hits A Grand – Gustavus junior quarterback Logan Becker has shown steady improvement throughout his first season as the full-time starter. In the win over Hamline on Saturday, Becker threw for 184 yards and three touchdowns. With those 184 yards he passed the 1,000-yard passing mark for his career. He is 101-for-156 for 1,020 yards in his three years.

Control The Clock – Saturday’s game will feature the top two ball-control teams in the MIAC. Gustavus is averaging 34:53 minutes of possession per game compared to Bethel who averages 34:30.

The Hogs Get Pub – The Gustavus offensive line was honored as the featured front in this week’s MIAC Preview. The “In The Trenches” section of the preview is dedicated to recognize the guys that do all the heavy lifting up front for their respective teams. The Gusties racked up 318 rushing yards on 45 carries for an outstanding average of 7.1 yards per carries. Last Saturday’s starters on the Gustie line were tackles Brian Grundmeyer and Lance Erickson, guards Lyle Opdahl and Ryan Steele and center Robbie Porter.

By The Numbers…

Brad Kruckeberg with a fist pump following a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown

3

The number of interceptions Brad Kruckeberg has made this season. He is currently tied for the league-lead and has picked up a total of 103 interception return yards.

14

Where Jeffrey Dubose’s 202-yard performance against Hamline ranks all time in single game rushing performances at Gustavus.

18

In his last trip to Arden Hills, Logan Becker came into the game to throw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Richard White against Bethel his freshman season in 2008. The score put Gustavus up 14-10 in the third quarter and the Gusties held on to a 17-10 victory. It was Becker’s only pass of the season.

318

The number of rushing yards the Gustavus offense picked up in the 41-14 win over Hamline. It is the third best single-game rushing performance since 1996 for Gustavus team, sitting behind a 354-yard game against Augsburg in 2008 and a 344-yard game against St. Olaf in 1996.

1143

The amount of offensive yards Gustavus quarterback Logan Becker has accounted for this season. The Gusties have recorded a total of 1921 yards this season.

Assistant coach Andrew Valen during his pre-game pump-up ritual

41.4

The average amount of rushing yards the Bethel defense is allowing this season. The Royals rank first in the MIAC and have given up a total of 207 yards on the ground to date.

9-25-2

Bethel’s MIAC record from 1987-1990. Within that time frame, Bethel alumnus and now Gustavus Head Coach Peter Haugen was a tight end on the football team.

+4

Both Gustavus and Bethel’s turnover margin thus far this season. The Gusties have 13 take-aways compared to nine turnovers, while Bethel has 11 take-aways and seven turnovers.

91

The amount of yards Scott Anderson ran to score a touchdown in 1991. It is the longest touchdown run in Gustavus history. Jeffrey Dubose’s 85-yard TD run last Saturday is the second longest touchdown run in behind Anderson’s dash.

Gustavus inducted nine individuals in the Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday. They included Paige Tierney Sullivan, Angela White Vick, Erik Allen, Erik Hendrikson, Pete Anderson, Heidi Rostberg Carlson, Leigh Stocker Berger, Evie Cieslar Erdman, and Duke Paluch.

288.2 to 257

The average weight per player of the Bethel offensive line compared to the Gustavus offensive line. Bethel is averaging 260.4 yards per game on the ground, while Gustavus averages 202 yards per game.