WAVERLY, Iowa – Forcing three missed field goals, two interceptions and nine tackles for loss, the No. 21 ranked Bethel University football team defeated No. 11 Wartburg, 24-14, in the third round of the NCAA Playoff Saturday in Waverly, Iowa.
 
The win improves Bethel to 11-2 on the year as they reach the quarterfinals for the sixth time in program history and third time since 2018.
 
Bethel outgained Wartburg (10-2) by a 290-288 minimal margin, including a 221-117 edge in the air. Bethel rushed for 69 yards while Wartburg was held to 111 yards, despite coming in averaging 213.5 rushing yards a game.
 
Cooper Drews was 23-of-34 passing while airing it out for two touchdowns. Aaron Ellingson on the ground had 20 caries for 60 yards while receiving wise he had six catches for 47 yards. Micah Niewald had 10 catches for 99 yards while Joey Kidder had three catches, one for a TD, for 38 yards.
 
Carter Johnson led the defense with 10 tackles, three which came for a loss. Kolin Baier had Bethel's lone sack while adding three TFLs.
 
Receiving the opening kickoff, Bethel scored on its opening drive where Cooper Drews completed all six passing attempts. The Royals recovered a fumbled handoff on the Wartburg seven-yard line before Drews connected with Aaron Ellingson for a catch and run score.
 
The Knights needed one play to respond going over the top for a 55-yard touchdown pass with 10:43 in the first.
 
Bethel's defense bent a bit but didn't break forcing misses on a 51-yard and 37-yard field goal attempt from the Knights. BU's offense got all the way down to the four-yard line before having to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Hugo Cifuentes putting the Royals back on top 10-7 with 5:18 left in the half.
 
In acrobatic fashion, Devin Williams picked off what would have been a 36-yard catch for the Knights and got BU back on the field with just one play later. Bethel's drive would stall at their own 44-yard line and have to punt on the six-play drive. The Royals' defense continued to shine forcing its first three-and-out of the day.
 
Working from their own 36-yard line, BU's effective offense marched 64 yards in 1:22 as Joey Kidder made a leaping grab in the end zone. The 14-yard score, which came with 24 seconds left, sent the Royals into the break up 17-7.
 
In the first half, Bethel totaled 245 yards of offense on 47 plays while holding the Knights to 162 yards in 29 plays.
 
Bethel's defense forced a pair of Wartburg punts before Cooper Drews made his first and only mistake of the game with an interception. Wartburg needed one play for a 25-yard score that made it 17-14 with 5:17 left in the third.
 
After the Royals turned it over on downs right at midfield late in the third, Wartburg carried its drive into the fourth where Matt Jung picked off the Knights' QB and ran down the far sideline for 59 yards to the house. It was his fourth pick six of the season.
 
It'd be the game's final score as BU's defense forced a punt, missed 30-yard field goal and then a game-sealing interception by Isaac Call in the Knights' final three possessions.
 
UP NEXT
Bethel squares off with No. 6 Susquehanna in the quarterfinals after the River Hawks defeated No. 3 Saint John's 41-38 with a last-second 37-yard field goal. The quarterfinal matchup is set for Saturday, Dec. 14. Susquehanna, is the higher-ranked NPI team and will have hosting duties. Kickoff will be 11 a.m. Central time, noon Eastern time with the game being played in Selinsgrove, Pa.

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