Video Highlights

ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—Bethel University improved to 5-1 on the season (4-0 MIAC) with a critical 52-21 victory over the unbeaten Maroons of Chicago University Saturday afternoon. The Royals nonconference date with Chicago was the 15th time in the last three seasons Bethel had faced an unbeaten opponent, improving to 11-4 in those matchups.
 
2013 MIAC MVP Erik Peterson played a large part in BU's success throughout the afternoon, hitting seven different receivers for 320 yards and five touchdowns on 19-of-23 passing. Peterson targeted Bridgeport Tusler six times for 79 yards and one touchdown, while also finding Drew Neuville for five catches, 87 yards, and one score.
 
Leading wide receiver Bryce Marqaurdt hauled in three passes for 71 yards, but two of the three catches went for touchdowns, increasing his season total to eight. Rookie wide out Charles Johnson also recorded his first touchdown as a Royal, bringing in a 49-yard pass from Peterson to help Bethel go ahead 14-3 early in the second quarter. Marquardt also had a 46-yard TD, resulting in two TD's longer than 45 yards.


 
BU's defense allowed Chicago a 34-yard field goal on the opening drive, but the Royals never trailed again after taking their first drive 76 yards on nine plays to go ahead 7-3. Johnson's 49-yard reception came before the Maroons scored their first TD of the game. But Bethel scored three more times before UC scored again, putting the game out of sight after the first 45 minutes of play.
 
Chicago came into the game as the third best defense in the country, allowing just 190 yards and 8.8 points per game. In fact, the Maroons had allowed just 44 total points in their five games played. BU blew the doors on those numbers, though, as the Royals amassed 455 yards offensively, resulting in 52 points, and just one punt on the day.
 
In addition to 320 yards passing, Bethel ran for 135 yards on 32 carries, averaging 4.2 yards per rush. Marshall Klitzke led all backs with 49 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, while Brandon Marquardt went for 42 yards on 10 carries. Tusler also found the end zone on the ground, in addition to the air, with five carries, 30 yards, and one score.


 
Matt Mehlhorn and Landon Mathis led a dynamic defense that forced one turnover and held the Maroons to 391 yards. Chicago finished the day with 189 yards on the ground, including 81 yards on their last two drives, and 202 yards passing.
 
Quarterback Patrick Ryan was 9-19 on the day with four passes over 27 yards. Mehlhorn and Mathis each had 11 tackles, while freshman linebacker Josh Dalki wrapped up 10 tackles, including one sack and two tackles for loss, along with one QB hurry. Daniel Leidall also added a forced fumble to the defense's stat line, while it was linebacker Jesse Moeckly that recovered the fumble and found the end zone on the same play, putting the Royals ahead 52-21 with 3:31 left in the game.


 
Bethel made significant strides throughout the day on third downs, finishing the game 6-of-9 on third downs. The Royals were also a perfect 5-of-5 inside the 20-yard-line, boosting their red zone percentage to 72.7 percent (16-22).
 
Saturday's win was a significant momentum builder for the Royals, but celebration will be short, as Bethel welcomes St. Thomas to Arden Hills next weekend for another highly anticipated MIAC showdown. BU, still undefeated in MIAC play, will try to take down the Tommies, who are 3-1 against league opponents, for the second consecutive season. Kickoff is scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. In addition to Bethel's live webcast, the game will also be covered on 830 WCCO radio.