Seventh-ranked Bethel University (Minn.) got a balanced performance with 274 rushing yards and 286 more through the air, and broke the game open in the third quarter in route to a 47-14 victory over the Beavers inside of J, Leslie Rollins Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Royals grabbed a 6-0 lead before its offense had taken a snap.  The Royals deflected a pass on the game's first play from scrimmage and saw their reigning First Team All-American Seth Mathis return it 30 yards to the endzone.  The extra point attempt missed wide right, keeping it a six-point lead.

Back-to-back touchdown passes of 33 and 53 yards from quarterback, Eric Peterson pushed the margin to 20-0.  BVU looked poised to take momentum into the halftime locker room after a 43-yard touchdown strike from Bobby Brown to Adam Cave with 48 seconds left, made it a 20-7 contest.

However, Bethel returned the ensuing kick-off 77 yards all the way down to the Beaver 14 yard-line, which set up a three-yard touchdown run to make it a 27-7 with only 14 ticks left in the half.

The Royals then scored on their first two drives of the second half, while BVU sanwiched an eight-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Jalen Henningsen in between those scores for a 40-14 lead after three quarters.

Bethel added a 39-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter for the game's final score.

Brown completed 14-of-37 attempts for 219 yards and the two touchdowns.  He was also intercepted twice.  Henningsen hauled in a team-high six catches for 93 yards and the one TD.  Cave followed with three grabs for 53 yards and a score.

Dylan Barrett chalked up a hard-earned 73 yards on the ground on 21 carries.

Peterson completed 19-of-24 attempts for 286 yards and three touchdowns for the Royals, who improve to 2-0 overall.  Brandon Marquardt led the ground attack with 111 yards on 12 carries, as Marshall Klitzke added 77 more on 12 attempts.

Buena Vista dips to 0-3 on the season and will now have a bye week next Saturday before it opens Iowa Conference play the following weekend by hosting #20 Coe College (3-0).  It's also Homecoming for the Beavers with kick-off scheduled for 1:00pm.