NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College football team got a program-record 20 catches for 118 yards from senior receiver
Tyler Dimond, but couldn't overcome the No. 16-ranked Bethel University Royals in a 53-10 loss.
Carleton celebrated Senior Day before the final home game of the career of the class of '27. This group, with one game left in their careers, has won 23 games and will never finish a season with a losing record.
The Knights (5-4, 5-3 MIAC) forced two punts on Bethel's (7-2, 7-1 MIAC) first two drives, but couldn't capitalize.
Matt Geivett attempted a 51-yard field goal halfway through the first quarter on Carleton's opening drive to try and give the hosts the lead. The kick had plenty of distance, but sailed just left. Bethel got on the board first with a 30-yard rushing touchdown from Taye Manns near the end of the first quarter, and scored three times in the second stanza via two rushing touchowns and a passing score.
In the final minute of the first half, first-year
Kai Turner forced a fumble near midfield, which was recovered by
Rider McCormick. Tyler Mastronardi maneuvered the Knights down to the 18-yard line over the final 52 seconds and Geivett drilled a 35-yard field goal on the penultimate play of the first half.
Out of the break, Carleton turned the ball over on downs twice after reaching Bethel territory, and the Royals scored touchdowns to extend the lead. The visitors reached the end zone twice more in the fourth quarter before
Cordae Williams intercepted a Royal pass with 5:50 left and returned the ball to the Bethel 3-yard line. Mastronardi found first-year
Jackson Schultz two plays later on a play-action pass for Schultz's first career catch and touchdown. Bethel ran the clock out on the following drive to seal the win.
Dimond's 20 grabs were three more than any other Knight in recorded program history (see chart below). Mastronardi was accurate in the Knights' short-pass game plan, hitting on 37-of-47 attempts (78.7 percent) for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Jackson Reade and Turner both broke up two passes.
Ronan Thomas made 14 tackles, a career high.
Jack Centurelli made eight stops and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton concludes its season on Saturday, Nov. 14 up north, meeting the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers at 12:00 p.m. at Jake Christiansen Stadium.
Most Receptions by a Carleton receiver (single game)
20 - Tyler Dimond vs Bethel 11/7/26
17 - Nathan Streiff at Concordia 9/30/23
16 - Matt Frank at St. Thomas 10/25/08
15 - Fletcher Metz at Macalester 9/1/18
14 - Matt Frank at St. Olaf 11/4/06
14 - Matt Frank at Concordia 11/8/08
14 - Zach Creighton St. Olaf 10/22/16
14 - Mack Journell Lawrence 9/8/18
14 - Mack Journell Macalester 9/7/19
14 - Emanual Williams vs. Augsburg 10/19/19
