St. John’s quarterback Jackson Erdmann hit Will Gillach for a 71-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, and cornerback Sam Westby took an interception 34 yards for a touchdown with 4:57 to play in the game to squelch a Bethel rally and preserve a 34-16 victory over the Royals at Arden Hills.

The Johnnies (4-0 MIAC, 5-0 overall) led 20-3 as the fourth quarter began, but Bethel (2-1, 4-1) scored two quick touchdowns to cut it to 20-16. At 13:09, Bethel’s Jake March hit Drew Larsen from 15 yards out, then at the 9:48 mark, Marsh capped a 64-yard drive with a 3-yard pass to Grant Friedlein.

After St. John’s missed a field goal, Bethel took over on its own 21, but Westby smelled out the Royals’ bubble screen play and recorded the pick-six.

Erdmann completed 16 of 31 passes for a season-best 287 yards but with two interceptions. Erdmann had thrown only two picks in the Johnnies’ first four games.

Kai Barber ran for two touchdowns and finished wtih 69 yards on the ground.

For Bethel, Marsh completed 13 of 23 passes for 164 yards, with two scores and two interceptions.

Gustavus 27, Concordia 14

The Gustavus defense held Concordia to 20 yards rushing — less than a yard a carry — and quarterback Michael Veldman passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in a homecoming victory at St. Peter.

Gustavus (1-2, 2-3) had the ball for more than 41 minutes against Concordia (2-2, 3-3), the MIAC’s top rushing team going into the game.

“It was an incredible job by our defense,” Gusties coach Peter Haugen said. “To hold a team like Concordia to 20 yards is really quite something.”

Gustavus scored four touchdowns in the first half. Veldman started it with a 1-yard run with 3:14 to go in the first quarter. David Peal added an 11-yard scoring run early in the second, then Veldman hit Brayton Finch from two yards out and capped the half with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Todd Johnson with 21 seconds on the clock.

Concordia quarterback Blake Kragnes completed 12 of 27 passes for 174 yards and rallied the Cobbers for two scores in the second half.

Gustavus outgained Concordia 387-194 in total offense. Sam Michel recorded 19 tackles and Andrew Thompson added 18 to lead the Gusties defense.

Carleton 42, Hamline 26

Christian Zaytoun threw six touchdown passes, tying the Carleton record and leading the Knights to their first MIAC victory of the season in Northfield.

Hamline (0-4, 0-6) took a 20-7 in the second quarter by converting 6 of 7 third downs and 4 of 4 fourth downs. Pipers quarterback Justice Spriggs ran a yard for one touchdown and threw scoring passes to Tanner Lunceford and Zander Payne.

“We had to weather the beginning,” Carleton coach Tom Journell said. “Hamline was really executing at a high level on third and fourth down. We couldn’t get off the field.”

Carleton (1-3, 2-4) scored the next 35 points, beginning with a 62-yard drive that ended with Zaytoun’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Jay Bowers.

On their next possession, the Knights drove 71 yards on eight plays, with Zaytoun passing 18 yards to Beau Nelson for the touchdown and a 21-20 halftime lead.

Zaytoun completed 25 of 33 passes for 243 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. Mack Journell caught 10 of his passes for 125 yards and three scores.

Spriggs completed 19 of 44 passes for 178 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.