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ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—What began as a perfect day for football ended as a storybook finish for the Royals, as they went on to defeat St. Thomas at home Saturday 35-24. The victory was Bethel's 13th consecutive against an MIAC opponent and second straight against the 22-ranked Tommies.
 
The 11-point victory was made possible by a decisive final drive that went 7:38 and resulted in a 25-yard touchdown by senior running back Brandon Marquardt on 4rd-and-3 with 0:01 left on the clock after the score. The TD run was one of two gutsy fourth down conversions by the Royals on the drive, as they converted a seven-yard pass on 4th-and-2 from their own 49-yard-line. The final drive for the Bethel offense lasted 17 plays and, although it resulted in a touchdown, it ultimately kept the Tommie offense off the field for the remainder of the game.


 
The dramatic finish didn't look necessary in the first half, as the Royals took a commanding 21-0 lead at the midway mark. Celebration was minimal though, as last year featured a similar start, but UST quickly got back into the game. The same was true in this year's rematch, as a Tommie touchdown on their first drive of the second half and an onside kick on the very next play that went St. Thomas's way narrowed UST's 21-point deficit to seven with 5:54 left in the third quarter.
 
Bethel never waivered, however, as Ben Wahlquist delivered a critical interception for the BU defense on the UST 38-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The Royals then handed the Tommies what was the eventual knockout punch on the very next paly with a 38-yard carry by Marshall Klitzke featuring a 360-degree spin and a scamper to the pylon.
 
The Tommies converted a touchdown and field goal in the final frame, but never led throughout the entire game.


 
Bethel built its first half lead with a rushing touchdown by Marshall Klitzke on the opening drive after Josh Tremier had a leaping interception to start the game. Bridgeport Tusler then scored one of two touchdowns on an 8-yard carry and then scored his second on a 27-yard reception thrown by a scrambling Erik Peterson on 4th-and-3 from the UST 27-yard-line.
 
Marshall Klitzke, who finished with 86 yards and two scores, led the Royals' three-headed rushing attack, while Brandon Marquardt added 57 and a touchdown and Bridgeport Tusler tallied 28 yards and a TD.
 
Quarterback Erik Peterson finished 15-of-25 for 196 yards and a touchdown, while suffering one interception and a sack—just the sixth all season. The Royals defense bounced St. Thomas's starter, Matt O'Connell, after forcing him to throw two picks and holding him to 10-of-20 passing in the opening 30 minutes.


 
Bryce Marquardt again led the team in receiving, collecting five passes for 70 yards. Meanwhile, Tusler added four catches, 58 yards, and a touchdown, while four others hauled in six more passes.
 
David Morgan led Bethel's dynamic defense Saturday, finishing the day with 12 tackles, including one for a loss of four yards, and one interception. Josh Treimer and Ben Wahlquist also knabbed two Tommie passes, while wrapping up 13 tackles, collectively. Landon Mathis added another double-digit day with 10 tackles and Daniel Leidall finished with nine.
 
The road to repeat doesn't get any easier, as the Royals travel to St. Peter next Saturday to take on Gustavus Adolphus—another one-loss team—at 1 p.m.