MINNEAPOLIS -- Tyler Swanson (JR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Brumm (SR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) in the third quarter to put the Auggies on the board but it was not enough, as the Augsburg College football team fell 42-7 to the Bethel University Royals in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Augsburg finishes its season with a 6-4 overall record and a 4-4 mark in MIAC play. The Auggies claimed their 13th above-.500 finish in school history and first since a 6-4 overall (5-4 MIAC) finish in 1999. With the win, Bethel moves to 8-2 overall, 6-2 in MIAC play.
The Royals began the game with a 14-play, 53-yard drive that ate 7:56 off the clock, but the Augbsurg defense was able to hold as the Bethel drive ended in a missed field goal. The Auggies were forced to punt on their opening drive and the Bethel offense took advantage and converted touchdowns on its next five possessions, resulting in a 35-0 lead before the Auggies could answer back.
The Augsburg scoring drive was a 7-play, 55-yard drive that took 3:56 off the clock, resulting in the lone score of the afternoon for the Auggies. The touchdown pass was the 15th of the season for Auggie quarterback Brumm and the second receiving touchdown for Swanson.
Brumm completed 15-of-33 passing for 128 yards and one touchdown. In his 27th career start for the Auggies, Brumm finished with 6,974 passing yards on 585-of-1,072 passing -- each total second-best in school history. His 46 career passing touchdowns are tied for second-place with Derrin Lamker (1993-97). Jordan Berg (2006-08) holds each of Augsburg's career passing records -- 796-of-1,350 passing for 8,777 yards and 72 touchdowns.
Swanson led the Auggies in receiving on the afternoon, catching four passes for 62 yards, including a 23-yard pass connection to Brumm in the second quarter. Adam Carl (SO, Eagan, Minn.) also caught four passes for the Auggies, while Hakeem Bourne-McFarlane (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS) and Waylon Hartwick (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) caught three apiece.
Defensively, Augsburg had three players record double-digit tackles on the afternoon. Tyler Jensen (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) led all players with 12 tackles (three solo), while Bryce Vee (JR, Coon Rapids, Minn./Blaine HS) and Adam Sonntag (JR, Green Lake, Wis.) posted 11 and 10 tackles respectively. Edmond Smith (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./North HS) and Tony Rickoff (SR, Winona, Minn./Winona HS) teamed up for the Auggies lone sack of the afternoon, while recording nine and eight tackles respectively.
Felix Coleman (FY, Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson HS) came away with his team-leading fifth interception of the season, as he picked-off Bethel quarterback Josh Aakre (SR, Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd HS) late in the third quarter. Coleman added seven tackles (two solo) on the afternoon.
Kelson Carr (SR, North Bend, Wash./Eastside Catholic HS) rushed 18 times for 116 yards and three touchdowns for Bethel -- a six-yarder late in the second quarter, a 15-yarder in the third quarter and a three-yarder with 3:22 left in the game. Jesse Phenow (SO, Richfield, Minn.) rushed 23 times for 105 yards for the Royals.
Bethel outgained Augsburg by a 426-146 margin in the game, including 312 rushing yards. Bethel was also able to control the clock, finishing with a 42:42-to-17:18 advantage in time of possession. Aakre threw for 114 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 57 yards on 16 carries and a second-quarter touchdown. Jay Hilbrands (SO, Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY HS) and Reese Walker (JR, Independence, Mo.) caught first-quarter touchdowns from Aakre.
Saturday marked the final game for 12 Augsburg seniors -- Eric Arlien (SR, Howard Lake, Minn./Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted HS), Josh Beck (SR, Rush City, Minn.), Brumm, DeAndre Dennis (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS), Nick DeVet (SR, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS), Mitch Gerold (SR, Braham, Minn.), Jensen, Tim Lund (SR, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS), Emmanuel Marcellino (SR, Rochester, Minn./Century HS), Tyler Phillips (SR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS), Tony Rickoff (SR, Winona, Minn.) and Edmond Smith (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./North HS).