Whitewater, Wis. - An incredible run and great season came to a close for the Bethel University football team on an extremely windy and rainy day in Whitewater, Wisconsin by a 26-12 score against No. 4/5 UW-Whitewater. Turnovers on four of the first five possessions of the game for Bethel, all of them deep in their own territory staked UW-Whitewater to a 23-0 lead early in the 2^nd quarter. The Royals showed what they are all about though and did not back down, quickly flipping the momentum of the game with two touchdowns before the end of the first half to pull within 23-12. Two more interceptions in the second half, one in the endzone as the Royals were knocking on the door to score, would deflate the comeback hopes.
 
Bethel punted on their first possession of the game after a three-and-out before the miscues would start. A wayward snap on a punt in the next possession allowed the UWW rush to get to punter Blake Hottle and block the attempt, giving the Warhawks the ball on the Bethel 23-yard line. The Royals defense would hold UWW to a field goal. The next possession on a third and five, a Bethel pass slipped through the hands of the intended receiver and into a Warhawk defenders arms giving UWW the ball again at the Bethel 16. The Warhawks would score a touchdown four plays later and on the extra point the wet ball went through the holders hands to keep the score at 9-0. The Royals next possession was another third down pass that was deflected into a UWW safeties grasp at the Bethel 27. The Warhawks busted off their biggest offensive play of the day on the ensuing play, a 27-yard touchdown run to make the score 16-0 with two-minutes still remaining in the first quarter. Bethel was then forced to punt after another three-and-out and this time the snap was bobbled, not allowing the punt to get off, and UWW took over at the BU 11-yard line. It would take the Warhawks four plays to score another touchdown for a 23-0 lead.
 
Bethel started to show some life as their next drive included a pair of first downs before a punt and then the defense, finally starting again on the UWW side of the field, forced a quick three and out. The Royals would go on a 6-play, 44-yard scoring drive with quarterback Roste plowing in from four yards out. The drive was highlighted by a 30-yard connection from Roste to Joel Koenecke. The two-point conversion attempt was a completion to Larsen who looked to be turning up to score but a Warhawk linebacker was able to cut him off just before the endzone. The Bethel defense again gave UWW nothing on their next possession and forced another punt. The offense used the momentum and went on an eight play, 77-yard scoring drive. Roste again completed the drive with an 11-yard run, breaking multiple tackles on the way to the endzone. Big pass plays to John Pytlak for 13 yards and Drew Larsen for 40 yards helped Bethel move down the field. The extra point was missed, leaving the score at 23-12 with just 46 seconds remaining in the half.
 
The second half started favorably for Bethel as they continued their momentum, fueled by a strong sense of belief they could come back and win the game. The defense forced a quick three-and-out on the first possession and on the second possession Cale Ferrin intercepted a tipped ball to give the offense a short field. The Royals looked to be on the verge of scoring again after Sam Gibas caught a screen pass and ran for 28 yards before carrying the ball twice for 12 yards down to the three. The Warhawks and their size on the defensive front stopped Bethel twice on first and second down for no gain. On 3^rd down, Roste rolled out to his right and lofted a pass into the endzone that was picked off and returned 20 yards out of the endzone. The Royals defense continued to be outstanding, stopping Whitewater immediately on their possession but the offense was unable to generate anymore significant drives the rest of the way. UWW eventually found some success on the ground to grind out much of the remaining clock on their drives, adding a field goal for the final margin of 26-12.
 
The Bethel defense held strong as the Warhawks were just 1-9 throwing the ball for 8 yards but were able to run for 230 yards on 50 carries. Bethel ran for a season low 65 yards and threw for 156 but the turnovers were the story of the game as the Royals threw four interceptions along with the punting miscues, while the Warhawks had just one turnover.
 
Senior defensive end Kyle Kilgore had another monster game, recording seven solo tackles with two sacks and three tackles for loss. In the Royals three postseason games, Kilgore had 18 solo and two assisted tackles, seven sacks, eight-and-half tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Senior linebacker Drew Ragsdale, the Royals leading tackler on the season, led the Bethel unit against UWW with 10 tackles, seven solo.
 
The Royals finish the season 11-2 and for the fourth time in the last 12 seasons they reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA playoffs, twice before advancing to the semis. Bethel is the only program in the MIAC other than St. Thomas to make that many runs to the quarterfinals during that span.