Box Score

MENOMONIE, Wis.—Head football coach Steve Johnson has a familiar quote to his team saying, "Run to the battle. Stay in the battle. Finish." And that's exactly what the Royals did Thursday night under the lights in their season opening 35-20 win over UW-Stout.
 
Bethel jumped out to a 14-7 lead at the midway mark, but the Blue Devils narrowed the gap to one point with 0:52 remaining in the third quarter. Without panicking or showcasing any signs of pressure, starting quarterback Andrew Dzurik—making his collegiate debut under center—led BU on three consecutive touchdown drives that went unanswered until there was 1:46 left in the game.  Dzurik's poise and Bethel's stout defense in the final 15 minutes allowed the Royals to build a 35-13 advantage, which they sustained until the end.
  
UW-Stout started the scoring with a first-quarter touchdown, but Dzurik and Charles Johnson responded almost immediately when they connected on a 40-yard touchdown on the very next drive. The Royals then strung together another scoring opportunity on the very next possession. Josh Werness capped off a 13-play, 77-yard when plummeting into the end zone from two yards out, which gave Bethel a seven-point lead at the half.
 
The Blue Devils kept BU off the scoreboard throughout the entire third quarter, while adding a pair of field goals. But the Royals responded valiantly in the fourth frame, as Dzurik threw back-to-back-to-back touchdowns in three straight drives. Dzurik hit Marquardt in stride on a 40-yard toss down the far sideline, which broke the tension of a 14-13 score with 13:08 remaining. Then after Bethel's defense forced UW-Stout off the field, Dzurik found Drew Neuville in the back of the end zone. Dzurik and Neuville then hooked up again with 4:42 left in the game on a 46-yard catch-and-run that pushed Bethel's lead to 35-13.
 
Dzurik finished the contest 21-of-27 for 270 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Dzurik wasn't the only one stuffing the stat sheet, though, as Marshall Klitzke rushed 21 times for 99 yards and Bridgeport Tusler posted 85 yards on 13 carries.
 
Drew Neuville ended the game with seven receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Canfield caught five passes for 36 yards, Bryce Marquardt grabbed four passes for 66 yards, and Charles Johnson finished with four catches and 51 yards.
  
The Royals amassed 516 yards of total offense behind 241 yards rushing and 275 yards passing. BU gained 26 first downs, compared to UW-Stout's 22, and was charged for nine penalties.
 
Bethel's defense, who held the Blue Devils to 13 points over the first 57 minutes, allowed UW-Stout 422 yards and 20 points throughout the game. BU limited Stout to 81 yards rushing and zero touchdowns on 20 carries.
 
Jesse Moeckly led the Royals with eight tackles and one breakup. Jordan Bardwell was credited with Bethel's only sack of the game, while Josh Dalki, Landon Mathis, and Phillip Peterson each tallied a tackle for loss.
 
BU will get back to the Saturday afternoon schedule next week, when they welcome No.6-ranked Wartburg at Bethel Stadium on September 12 at 1 p.m.