MOORHEAD, Minn. — Bethel University's football team traveled to Moorhead, Minn., Saturday afternoon for the 2017 MIAC opener against No. 23-ranked Concordia College. The Royals (0-3, 0-1 MIAC) gave the Cobbers a scare early as they led 7-0 after the opening frame, but 31 unanswered points propelled Concordia to their third straight victory.
 
BU held the Cobbers to a 3-and-out on the opening drive of the game and proceeded to drive deep into Concordia territory, but the Royals were stalled on 4th-and-2 at the CC 28-yard-line.

The two teams each had another possession before Bethel took over on the BU 31-yard-line with 29 seconds remaining in the first quarter. It was then on 1st-and-10 that Jake Marsh connected with Joel Koenecke for a 69-yard catch and run that resulted in the first score of the game.
 
Concordia and Bethel once again went back-and-forth before the Cobbers strung together a 16-play, 73-yard scoring drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal to make the game 7-3 in favor of the Royals.
   
BU went 3-and-out, which allowed Concordia to put together a 5-play, 48-yard scoring drive that gave the Cobbers a 10-7 lead. Bethel was inches away from responding as they drove 58 yards down the field in the final 1:11 of the second quarter, but a blocked field goal with time expiring prohibited BU from tying the game at 10-10 going into the half.
 
The second half belonged to Concordia as they posted one touchdown in the third quarter and two in the fourth, while holding the Royals scoreless in the final 45:19.
 
Bethel finished with 289 yards of total offense, while holding Concordia to 399. Sophomore quarterback Jake Marsh finished 21-of-34 for 229 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Marsh connected with seven different receivers, including Joel Koenecke, who hauled in 10 passes for 149 yards and one score. Koenecke has now caught 16 passes for 212 yards and one TD the last two weeks.
 
Sam Gibas ran the ball seven times for 31 yards and caught the ball four times for 13 yards. Levi Duininck carried the rock four times for 13 yards.
 
Trent Substad led Bethel on defense as the junior charted 17 tackles, which included six solo and one for loss. Substad also broke up two passes by Cobber quarterback Michael Herzog. Brett Norling tallied 14 tackles and Zach Eenhuis and Kyle Kilgore each finished with 10. Cale Ferrin, who leads the team in tackles, recorded his first interception of the season and his fourth career.
 
Bethel hopes to pick up their first win of the season next Saturday, when they host St. Olaf College. The Royals and Oles are scheduled to kickoff at 1 p.m.