On Saturday, Nov. 8, Carleton fell 49–7 to No. 4 Bethel University. The Knights led 7–0 after a first-quarter takeaway and trick play, then conceded 42 unanswered points. Senior quarterback Jack Curtis ’26 left after the first offensive play of the second quarter, and sophomore quarterback Tyler Mastronardi ’28 finished the game.
Carleton opened with two defensive flashes. Senior linebacker Jacob Ventura ’26 intercepted a pass at the Carleton 43 with 12 minutes left in the first quarter. A series later, senior defensive lineman Luke Sugalski ’26 forced and recovered a fumble at the Bethel 32.
The Knights cashed in one snap later. Lined up at receiver, Cooper Pollard ’27 took a lateral and threw a 23-yard touchdown to Jaxon Watson ’27 at 8:42 of the first, putting Carleton up 7–0.
Bethel flipped field position on the ensuing kickoff with a 46-yard return to the Carleton 45. Three plays later, quarterback Cooper Drews hit Albert Rundell for a 30-yard score at 8:08 to tie it. Rundell added a 17-yard touchdown with 3:58 left in the first for a 14–7 Bethel lead.
A potential momentum flip late in the first quarter did not stand. An interception at the Carleton 7 was erased by a defensive holding penalty, and Bethel kept the ball. The Royals finished that red-zone series at 14:33 of the second quarter when Drews scored on a 2-yard keeper to make it 21–7.
Bethel continued to target Rundell. Touchdowns of 21 yards at 10:49 and 14 yards at 1:23 pushed the halftime score to 35–7. Bethel missed a 48-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
Curtis, who said before the game he was playing through fractures in his throwing hand, did not return after Carleton’s first snap of the second quarter. “The ball won’t have the same zip… I have to be very accurate,” Curtis said in a pregame interview. He added that against Bethel, he expected “a lot of game-time decisions” and the need to check plays at the line.
Bethel scored on its first drive of the third quarter, a 14-yard pass from Drews to Teagan Viebrock at 11:14 for a 42–7 margin. Carleton’s next three series ended in punts, including after a 7-yard sack. Bethel missed a 30-yard field goal late in the quarter.
Rundell caught his fifth touchdown with 12:11 remaining, a 5-yard reception to make it 49–7. Bethel later ran the clock out after reaching the Carleton 6 in the final minute.
Carleton’s special teams produced a few field-position plays. Watson returned a kickoff 39 yards to open the second quarter. Kicker/punter Marcus Merkelbach ’26 hit punts of 50 and 54 yards and converted the first-quarter extra point.
Before the game, offensive coordinator Alex Balogh described the challenge Bethel posed and the approach Carleton hoped to use. “Bethel does a fantastic job of being very complex and showing a lot and yet doing it in such a way that is simple enough for their guys to execute and fly around,” Balogh said. He expected pressure looks with defenders “up” at the line, but emphasized staying on schedule with quick rhythm throws.
Balogh said the Knights would make small protection adjustments rather than change identity. “We’re doing some chip stuff… and a few tight end/wing-ish surfaces,” he said. He added that Carleton would lean on if-then answers and give the quarterback a lot of power at the line. “We’re giving Jack the pen to change the play if the look isn’t right.”
Curtis echoed the need to adapt. He said Bethel mixes bluff pressure with occasional all-out rushes and features a roaming safety who can bait deep throws. “Don’t be scared to check on the field,” Curtis said before kickoff. He noted that with his hand injury, he would focus on timing and ball placement.
Rundell set MIAC single-game records with 21 receptions and five touchdown catches. Bethel’s win clinched at least a part of the MIAC championship and the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The Knights face off against Concordia College-Moorhead at home on Saturday, Nov. 15 for Senior Day.