SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus football team will play host to Bethel on Saturday at 1 p.m. for homecoming. The Gusties enter the contest 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the MIAC while the Royals are 2-0 overall.
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Homecoming: Gustavus is celebrating its 95th Homecoming today, continuing a tradition started on Nov. 8, 1924, when the Gusties defeated Saint John’s 33-0 on Hallander Field. Gustavus has enjoyed a good deal of success on Homecoming Day, compiling an all-time record of 65-27-2. In 87 Homecoming contests, Gustavus has tallied a 59-26-2 record against conference opponents, including a 1-3 mark against Bethel. The last meeting between these two teams on Gustavus’s Homecoming came in 2006, a 40-0 Bethel victory.
Willie Lindquist Day: Saturday we will celebrating former equipment manager Willie Lindquist for all his contributions to Gustavus and his continued support of the athletics program. Willie will be recognized on the field with the honorary coin toss. A gathering to socialize with Willie will begin at halftime in the black and gold tent north of the field. All are invited.
Scouting the Gusties: Gustavus is looking to get back into the win column this week after dropping its first contest of the season at Saint John’s 33-21 last Saturday. The Gusties were able to hang with the Johnnies for the majority of the game until a late Gustavus turnover followed immediately by a Johnnie score extended the home team’s lead to 12. After a Gustavus turnover on downs, Saint John’s was able to grind out the clock and take the win.
Through three games this season, the Gusties average 37.3 points and 409.3 yards of total offense per game. On defense, the Gusties have five interceptions, which ranks first in the MIAC. The return game has also been strong as the Gusties rank second in the conference with an average of 23.3 yards per kick return.
Michael Veldman (Sr., Becker) ranks atop the MIAC leaderboard in many categories this season including completions (69), yards (997), and touchdowns (9). He has looked to the duo of Brice Panning (Sr., Hamburg) and Josh Kirk (Sr., Garvin) often as the pair is in the MIAC’s top five in receptions and yards this year. Panning has caught 20 passes for 329 yards for six touchdowns, while Kirk has 22 receptions for 295 yards and two scores.
Zach Jakes (So., Mankato) has been a force on the defensive front this year, notching 19 tackles to lead the Black and Gold, with two tackles for loss and a sack. Austin Fest (Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa) and Jake Boykin (Sr., Las Cruces, N.M.) both have 18 tackles on the year with Fest recording an interception and a fumble recovery. Kaleb Scott (Jr., Gardena, Calif.) is tied for the conference lead with two interceptions.
Scouting the Royals: Bethel is coming off its bye week, most recently defeating UW-River Falls 38-20 on Sept. 14. The Royals outgained the Falcons 516-387 in the matchup and recorded a pair of interceptions.
The Royals have been balanced through two contests this year, averaging 264.0 yards per game through the air and 248.0 on the ground. Jaran Roste guides the Bethel offense as a dual-threat quarterback, leading the team in rushing with 24 carries for 159 yards and one touchdown, and completing 68.3 percent of his passes (35-of-51) for 451 yards and five touchdowns. Roste’s go-to target this season has been Drew Larsen who has 15 catches for 317 yards and five touchdowns. Sam Gibas has been the team’s primary running back, carrying the ball 37 times for 158 yards.
The Royals have been strong defensively, causing chaos in the opponent’s backfield with 15.0 tackles for loss in two games. Linebacker Kyle Peach has recorded 4.0 tackles for loss and is second on the team with 12 tackles. Cale Ferrin has recorded 13 tackles to lead the Royals and has an interception this season.