ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Football team made its shortest possible road trip on Saturday to take on No. 12 Bethel University in the Royals' first-ever evening home game under the lights of Royal Stadium. Bethel, fresh off a semifinal appearance in last year's NCAA Division III Playoffs, proved to be too much for a UNW team still gaining experience, winning 50-3 in its season opener.
Northwestern started on defense and forced a BU punt after a fumble in the backfield set the Royals back. The Eagles' offense wasn't able to capitalize; however, and Bethel broke the scoreless tie on its next possession. The hosts put up another score the next time they touched the ball to make it 14-0, but on their next possession,
Alex Schultz (Staples, Minn./Staples-Motley) came up with a big pass breakup to force another punt.
UNW appeared primed to make the Royals pay, as
Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) dashed for 35 yards into enemy territory, but a botched snap set the Eagles too far back to move the chains any further. BU was able to score one more touchdown before the half, but Northwestern's defense held up admirably on the other possessions, forcing three field goal attempts, which were all successful.
The Eagles got the ball first in the second half and converted a crucial third down as
Basil Demco (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) found Lofton for 32 yards to the Bethel 38-yard line. UNW was unable to turn the big play into points; however, punting it back to its opposition on 4
th and 9. The Royals methodically marched back down the field into Northwestern territory, but
Luke Sommerlot's defense hung tough, forcing a turnover on downs. As the Eagles' offense struggled to get things going, BU was able to tack on another touchdown before the end of the third quarter, and two more on its first two possessions of the fourth.
UNW lined up to punt with seven minutes remaining after another three-and-out, but the Bethel returner muffed the kick and
Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith) pounced on it, setting up the visitors' best starting field position of the night. Demco hit
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) on a crossing route for 18 yards to move into field goal range, and
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) booted a 34-yard kick to get the Eagles on the board with 3:58 remaining before the Royals ran the clock out.
Lofton finished with 72 total yards (41 rushing, 32 receiving) to lead Northwestern. Demco threw for 60 yards, 18 of which went to Ulmer and 10 to
Will Schleicher (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen).
Ian Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) and
Drake Lindberg (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) were the leading tacklers with nine-apiece, while
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) and
Clay Fee (Weyauwega, Wis./Weyauwega-Fremont) each logged eight.
Evan Sikorski (Webster, Wis./Webster) tallied a pair of pass breakups from his linebacker position, and Tahlay Douglas notched UNW's lone tackle-for-loss. Cruver's 34-yard field goal was the first of his career.
Northwestern will play at Reynolds Field for the first time this season next week, opening its 2025 home slate with UW-Stout at 6:00 PM.
