Posted: Sep 24, 2021

Cats Host No. 6 Reinhardt in Home Opener

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Game Notes

The Matchup

The Wildcats are finally home. After three road games to open the season the road warriors are back in Wildcat Stadium. The Cats lost at Delta State (14-48), beat St. Andrews (42-22), and beat Union (50-15) last week.

The No. 6 Reinhardt Eagles sport a 2-1 record. The Eagles lost to (FCS) Kennesaw State (35-25), beat Warner (45-0), and plummeted Campbellsville (52-7) last week.

It will be the seventh meeting between the two programs with RU holding a 5-1 advantage in the series. The two last met in the 2018 season opener. Bethel pulled off a stunning 31-21 upset over the No. 2 ranked Eagles. Ironically, Reinhardt would rip off nine straight wins before losing to Concordia (MI) by that same score in the first round of the NAIA Football Championships First Round. Bethel would win ten in a row before losing in the first round to Baker in the first round.

Bethel was picked to finish fourth in the MSC Blue Grass Division Preseason Poll. The Eagles was picked to win the MSC Appalachian Division.

It will be the 470^th game in program history with Bethel's record at 179-282 -8.

Game Coverage: Catch the action on WEIO, 100.9 and at https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO

Live video: https://bethelathletics.com/WildcatVision

Live stats: https://bethelathletics.com/sports/wvball/2021-22/boxscores/20210917_ae7o.xml

Tickets & Fan Attendance:

Ticket/fan policy - all are welcomed. For outdoor events, masks are encouraged but not required except when social distancing is not possible.

Purchase tickets at: https://bethelathletics.com/bethel-box-office

Tickets can also be purchased at the gate.

Gates open at noon.

Last Meeting & Series:

Last Week:

(Bethel)

After giving up nine unanswered points in the first quarter, the Wildcats answered with a 50-point unanswered outburst and beat the Union College Bulldogs 50-15 Saturday in Barbourville. The Road (Cat) Warriors moved to 2-1 on the year while the Dogs fell to 1-1.

Union's Isaiah Wright scored on a 67- yd run early in the game (13:44) to give the Dogs a 6-0 lead. Seth Burke's point after fell.

Unions' Riley Herndon nailed a 26 -yd field goal to up UC's margin to 9-0 with 7:12 left in the first.

The Wildcats got on the board with an 80-yard drive capped off by a De'Ontay Tate 10 -yd run. Luis Morales hit the point after to make it 9-7 game at the end of one.

Nolan Chowbay hit Dieuly Aristilde on a 71-yard pass play to give Bethel the lead. Morales was good again at the 12:19 mark of the second and the Cats took a 14-9 lead.

Vonte Bates added to the lead with a 32-yard interception return for a score and after the Morales PAT Bethel led 21-9 at the half.

Chowbay hit Quashawn Ford on an eight-yard pass early in the second half and Bethel took command at 28-9.

Bethel added more second half scores on a Tate 58-yard scamper. Chowbay struck paydirt again with a 65-yard strike to Davius Prather. Chowbay completed his career day with a 35-yard touchdown pass to James Dixon.

The Cats finished things off with a team safety.

Union scored late in the game for the final score of the contest.

Bethel had a 632-346 advantage in total offense. The Wildcats had a 380-123 margin in passing yards and outrushed the home team 252-223.

Chowbay was 16-28 in the air for the 280 yards. He had four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Tate had 131 rushing yards while Avont Burrus finished with six receptions for 104 yards. Dixon had 101 yards in receiving yards while Prather had 80.

Along with the Bates interception, the Cats also got a pick from Devious Christmon.

Brody Franks led the Wildcats with 10 total tackles. Bates and Jakobe Griffin contributed with eight stops.

Coach Michael Jasper was pleased with the win. "Hats off to Coach Luttrell and his program. They fought hard from start to finish and those young men deserve a lot of respect. We have been focused on us and how we play the game and making sure we uphold our standard. We started off slow, which I don't like but we responded well and settled in nicely. These kids are special and fight their tails off for our staff every day. It was great seeing some of our young guys get in and fight to keep stride." Coach added, "We are fired up to get home and play one of the best teams in the country at our place in front of our Wildcat family and he best fans in the NAIA."

(RU)

Reinhardt dominated on both sides of the ball on Saturday afternoon against Campbellsville (Ky.) at home as the Eagles racked up 562 yards of total offense to roll the Tigers, 52-7.

Reinhardt (2-1) opened the first quarter with three touchdown drives that finished with nice scoring plays – Javarsia Meadows (22-yard rush), Dylan Kelly (26-yard reception) and Billy Hall (13-yard run) – which helped the Eagles take off for a runaway victory.

"Very proud of our young men as I thought we showed up late playing all three phases," head coach James Miller said. "We had some starters out today and had some guys step up in crucial positions and were able to get the job done. Very proud of Solomon Lightfoot and Marquez Washington on the offensive line for stepping in and doing a good job for us up front. We were very physical in the running game, and I thought Devyn Collins had nice plays early on; really was running physically. I think we left plays out there still to be made through the air between dropped balls and some erratic throws – I think we should be better in that phase. We still made plays throwing the football, but I just know we're capable of more. Billy was electric with his feet, and defensively, we harassed the quarterback all day; which was great to see.

We gave up one play or else we would've shut them down for the game. We cannot give up big plays as a defense, and that is something that Coach Blue harps on a lot and we have to be about. From a special team standpoint, I like where we are at as a football team with running hard, playing fast and being very physical. Proud of the guys today and we must continue to get better at everything that we do every single week if we want to get to where we want to be."

Hall found the end zone again in the second quarter immediately following a shank on a punt attempt that went out at the 30-yard-line. It only took one play for the Eagle quarterback to run through the defense and into the paint for a 28-0 lead with 9:34 remaining until halftime.

Campbellsville got on the board less than two minutes later on a weaving 65-yard touchdown reception by Luke Sheperson to get back within 21 points. The Eagles, however, finished the first half on a 10-0 run after Devyn Collins found the paint from nine yards out and Reid Schratwieser hit a hit a 23-yard field goal for a halftime score of 38-7.

Marcus Jefferson opened the scoring in the third quarter – the only points of the period – with a 41-yard touchdown run for a 38-point advantage at 45-7. Backup quarterback Hunter Arters played the entire second half and found the end zone himself on a busted play from the one-yard-line.

Hall finished the contest with 139 yards in the air with a score, along with 51 more on the ground and the aforementioned pair of touchdowns.

Arters went 6-for-8 for 89 yards in relief.

Defensively, Reinhardt gave up just 53 yards rushing to the Tigers on 25 carries. The visitors threw the ball 28 times, completing 15 attempts for 165 yards and a score.

Jalen Everett had six total tackles and an interception. The Eagles as a group tallied six tackles for-loss and three sacks – two of which came from Vertez Shorter (2.5 tackles for-loss).

Jaharie Boone and Kenneth Lowery each made five stops as well.

Head Coaches:

Bethel's Michael Jasper is in his third year as head coach of the Wildcats. He is 13-13 in his career with the Cats. Before becoming the head coach Jasper served as the Assistant Head Coach and worked with the defensive line. Prior to that he held the titles of Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator, as well as overseeing the strength and conditioning program.

Jasper is the 12th head coach in Bethel football history.

The Wildcats were 3-4 last year and finished 3-2 in the MSC.

Before joining the Bethel staff, Jasper served as Offensive and Defensive Line Assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, New York.

Mike spent three years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and the Carolina Panthers.

Coach Jasper played for the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2005 and was a starter on their 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Championship team. After redshirting at Middle Tennessee State University, Coach Jasper joined the Bethel University Wildcats as an Offensive and Defensive Lineman from 2008-2010 and was the first ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 being selected by the Buffalo Bills.

He graduated from Bethel University with a Bachelor's Degree in University Studies. He and his wife Allison along with their daughter Davis Reid reside in McKenzie, Tennessee. Their rescue dog is named Caine.

Reinhardt's James Miller is in his fifth year as the head coach of Reinhardt after leading the Eagles to the NAIA national championship game in his first season (2017) and three trips to the NAIA Football Championship Series in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

A former football player at Virginia Tech, Miller has been with the Eagles since 2014, and has served as the program's recruiting coordinator in addition to overseeing the offensive line.

The Eagles (9-1 in 2020) hope to build on last year, where they made yet another appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals. Reinhardt is the five-time defending Appalachian Division champions within the Mid-South Conference.

The offense was 10th in the country while averaging 40.5 points per outing, and the Eagle defense gave up 16.2 points per game (ninth in the NAIA).

Did You Know?

The 2021 Football Media Guide is now available on the Bethel Athletic page. Keep up with the Cats this season with the on-line version at bethelathletics.com. Go to Inside Athletics and click on media guides.

Find out all you need to know about this year's team and their opponents. Bio's Records, Stats, and current rankings are all available. Get all the information about YOUR Wildcats!!!!!!

Bethel's Vonte Bates was named the MSC Defensive Player of The Week for his efforts against Union. Nolan Chowbay was named MSC Offensive Player of the Week.

Every September, football fans expect to see college coaches wearing an iconic bright green logo on their sleeves, raising awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. With college football roaring back this year after a Covid-disrupted 2020, Coach to Cure MD, presented by Werner Ladder, is also back in full swing. A partnership of the American Football Coaches Association and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy since 2008, Coach to Cure MD has become as much a part of college football as marching bands and other game day traditions. Each year, on the last weekend of September coaches at all levels of college football take collective action to raise awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood. This year's focal point is the weekend of September 25^th.

The Wildcats are in the Bluegrass Division with Georgetown, Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson, Cumberlands (KY), Pikeville, Thomas More and Cumberland games being divisional affairs.

Five MSC teams are ranked in the NAIA Coaches' Poll this week. Lindsey Wilson is No. 1 while Reinhardt is No. 6. Keiser is No. 7. Georgetown is back in the top ten at No. 9. Faulkner is No. 25 while Cumberlands received votes.

Coach Michael Jasper spent three seasons in the NFL playing for the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.

Eleven different states are represented on the Bethel squad. Next to Tennessee, Alabama has the most players on the roster.

Homecoming will be celebrated this year on November 6. The week includes the 2021 Hall-of-Fame Induction ceremonies. The Cats will host Thomas More University. Kick-off is slated for 1:30 p.m.

Coach Jasper is in his third season as head coach. Several changes to the staff have been made with new personnel and duties.

2021 Bethel University Football Staff

Michael Jasper- Head Coach, Defensive Line

Chris Springer- Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, DB

Keith Williams-Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line

Dustin Kincaid-Linebackers, Director of Football Operations

Cody McCallister-Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Safeties

Justin Brown-Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Wide Receivers

Brett Guminsky- Tight Ends, Halfbacks, Video Coordinator

Jay Bright- Quarterbacks, Pass Game Coordinator

Terrell Jackson- Senior Defensive Analyst, Linebackers

Bobby Mitchell- Graduate Assistant, Running Backs

Bret Petersen-Graduate Assistant

Manny Belluccia- Graduate Assistant

John Pasley- Student Assistant, Defensive Backs

Devon Patrick- Student Assistant

Giante Hicks- Student Assistant

Sean Allison-Student Assistant

Riley Benavides-Student Assistant

Ian Harris-Student Assistant

Next Week:

Bethel hits the road again as they travel to Williamsburg, Kentucky to face the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m. CST.

Live video:

https://cumberlandspatriots.com/watch/?Live=310&type=Live

Live stats:

https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20211002_r7zm.xml