ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Saturday's Top 25 showdown between No. 19-ranked Bethel and No. 6-ranked Wartburg proved to be a defensive battle that went the Knights way, as Wartburg used a touchdown in the final two minutes to secure a 24-14 victory over the Royals.

Both defenses kept the opposing offenses off the scoreboard, while limiting their total yardage throughout the nonconference matinee. BU's squad mustered just 275 yards of total offense, while the Knights composed 337. Wartburg's offense separated itself in the fourth quarter, however, as they manufactured 100 yards and a touchdown, opposed to the Royals, who produced just 21 yards throughout the frame. 

Saturday's defeat was Bethel's fourth-ever on a home-opener since the 1996 season. Prior to the Top 25 matchup, BU had gone 16-3 during that stretch with their last loss at home on a season opener coming in 2009, when they fell to Wheaton College on a last-second touchdown.
 

Bethel's offense generated two scores throughout the entire 60 minutes. Marshall Klitzke helped the Royals even the score at 7-7 with a 19-yard carry midway through the second quarter, capping off a three-play, 42-yard drive. The Knights answered, however, with a nine-play, 81-yard drive that put Wartburg ahead 14-7 at the half. BU drove 66 yards before the end of the second quarter, but couldn't convert on a 27-yard field goal.
 
Bethel wasted no time in the third quarter, as Andrew Dzurik and Bryce Marquardt connected on a 4th-and-Goal pass from the 7-yard-line in the Royals' opening drive of the half that knotted the score at 14-14. Dzurik's back shoulder completion to Marquardt at the goal line followed a 27-yard pass to Drew Neuville and an 18-yard pass to Marquardt earlier in the drive.
 
Phil Peterson recorded Bethel's second interception of the day on the ensuing Wartburg drive, which gave life to the home crowd. The Royals were not able to convert the turnover into points, though, as Dzurik was strip-sacked on the subsequent drive. The Knights capitalized on the BU turnover by kicking a 31-yard field goal that hit the uprights and landed just over the cross bar, putting Wartburg ahead 17-14.
 
Perhaps the deciding moment of the afternoon happened with 10:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, when Bridgeport Tusler took a punt return towards the near side, turned around, and raced all the way across the field and up the far sideline for what appeared to be an 85-yard touchdown that would've put BU ahead 20-17. But a targeting penality on Bethel negated the return and forced the Royals to start at their own 25-yard-line. Dzurik and Co. strung together a pair of first downs, but were tripped up near midfield and forced to punt. Wartburg then scored the decisive touchdown on the very next drive when Brandon Domeyer broke a tackle and scampered 16 yards into the end zone, completing a nine-play, 77-yard drive.
 
Marshall Klitzke posted his second straight game with 99 yards or more, as the senior tailback rushed 20 times for 105 yards. His 5.3 yards per carry Saturday bettered his season average to 5.0.

After going 21-of-27 in his Bethel debut last Thursday, Andrew Dzurik finished Saturday's competition 10-of-23 for 118 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Dzurik hit just three different wide outs, including Bryce Marquardt, who finished with six catches, 71 yards, and one touchdown.
 
Daniel Leidall led Bethel's defense with eight tackles, which contained one for a loss of three yards, and three pass breakups. Jesse Moeckly wrapped up seven tackles, including Bethel's only sack of the day for a seven-yard loss. In total, BU finished with four tackles for loss equating to 22 yards. Steven Plocker and Godfrey Mpetey tallied three and two quarterback hurries, respectively.
 
The Royals will utilize two tough matchups against nonconference opponents to prepare them for MIAC action, which begins next Saturday. Bethel travels to Northfield, Minn., to face St. Olaf for the conference opener at 1 p.m.