Wildcats Back on Road with trip to University of the Cumberlands
Game Notes
The Matchup
The Bethel Wildcats are back on the road this week visiting the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. After three weeks on the road, the Cats made the best of their lone home game thus far this past week with a 34-33 upset win over then ranked No. 6 Reinhart. Saturday's Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m. CST.
The Wildcats are 3-1 while the Patriots are 3-0 on the season. UC is 2-0 at home on the year. Both teams received votes in this week's NAIA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll.
It will be the 11th meeting between the two programs with the Patriots leading the series 7-3.
Bethel was picked to finish fourth in the MSC Blue Grass Division Preseason Poll. UC was picked third in the division.
It will be the 471st game in program history with Bethel's record at 180 -282 -8.
There will be no local radio for this game.
Live video:
https://cumberlandspatriots.com/watch/?Live=310&type=Live
Live stats:
https://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20211002_r7zm.xml
Tickets & Fan Attendance:
There are no restrictions on fans. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $8 for adults, $5 for students with ID.
Last Meeting & Series:
It will be the 11th meeting between the two programs with UC holding a 7-3 advantage in the series. The Wildcats beat the Patriots 38-14 back in March of this year in the abbreviated season. The Wildcats used a 21-0 first quarter to win the game.
Last Week:
(Bethel) When the Wildcats played host to the No. 6 Reinhardt Eagles Saturday it marked the 470th game in program history. There have been exciting and memorable games in that mix but none probably with more twists and turns than Saturday's affair at Wildcat Stadium.
When the Wildcats scored at the 11:19 mark of the third quarter they took a stunning 28-0 lead, and it appeared the Wildcats were about to rout the visitors from Georgia. The next 11 minutes of the quarter and the first three of the fourth stanza belonged to the Eagles. Reinhardt scored 33 unanswered points to lead 33-28.
The Wildcats were not to be denied however as they put together what proved to be a game winning drive in the fourth. Nolan Chowbay hit Quashawn Ford with a 19-yard pass with 6:23 left to give the Wildcats a 34-33 lead. The two -point conversion attempt failed but in the end the Cats held on for the one-point victory as Reinhardt's Reid Schratwieser's 48-yard field goal in the waning seconds came up short.
It was Bethel's second straight win over Reinhardt at Wildcat Stadium. The Cats upset then No. 2 ranked RU 31-21 back in 2018.
Cat scoring recap:
De'Ontay Tate put Bethel ahead 6-0 at 6:57 of the first with a 13-yard scamper. Luis Morales nailed the point after, and Bethel led 7-0.
In the second quarter it would be Anthony Hughes on a one-yard run for a score. Chowbay threw his second touchdown pass of the day with a 12-yard strike to Dieuly Aristilde with 1:35 left in the half. Bethel took a 21-0 lead to the locker room.
The Wildcats took the afore mentioned 28-0 lead after touchdown pass by Chowbay pass to James Dixon at that 11:19 mark of the third.
Cat Highlights:
Chowbay- 21-40, 325 yards passing, three touchdowns (13 on season)
Tate-89 yards rushing
Dixon -seven receptions, 137 yards
Caleb Hall- four punts for a 43.4 average
Mike Malone- 141 kick-off return yards
Calen Warren- 11 total tackles
Jakobe Griffin- nine total tackles
Brody Franks- seven total tackles
Devious Christmon -Interception
The Wildcats had a 488-423 advantage in total offense. Bethel had a 325-69 margin in passing yards. RU had a 354-163 advantage in rushing yards.
Coach Mike Jasper was pleased with his squad's effort and happy with the win. I am so proud of how our kid's fight. They played so well in the first half against a team worthy of their top ten ranking. All week we knew adversity would hit at some point, but our players met it head on and got the job done. So many of our kids stepped up and made big plays and that is what a good team must do to win. This is a great win for us and the program. We know we have a ton of work to do to get ready for a tough road game next week, but we will enjoy this one tonight."
(UC)
Career days from Ben Nixon and Brandon Stuckey led the offensive charge as the (RV) Patriots scored the first 42 points of the game en route to a 63-14 win over Southeastern Saturday night at James H. Taylor, II Stadium. With the win the Patriots improve to 3-0 on the season and extend win streak against the Sun Division to a perfect 9-0 all-time.
Stuckey had a career-game etching his name into the Patriot record books with three catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Stuckey ties the program record for receiving touchdowns in a game, while he also became just the fifth Patriot in program history to record over 1,000 receiving yards in his career. Nixon went 8-10 for a career-high 240 yards and four scores, while Jakob Greer and Gavin Wilkinson each added a touchdown through the air.
Martize Smith led all Patriots rushers with 54 yards on the ground, while Jamar Nuby extended his touchdown streak going for 36 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, UC was led by Bryson Williams who made a team-high five tackles, including a sack. Cumberlands finished with four sacks in the game and forced four Southeastern turnovers. Ke'Shawn Catlett notched a pair of interceptions, while Jamar Roberts added an interception as well.
For the second straight home game, the Patriots got on the board first without an offensive touchdown. On the third play of the game, Cooper Jones throw a lateral which was ultimately recovered by Tae Hammond, who returned it 22 yards for the touchdown to put the Patriots up 7-0 48 seconds into the game.
The Patriots are averaging a NAIA best 59.00 points per game.
Head Coaches:
Bethel's Michael Jasper is in his third year as head coach of the Wildcats. He is 14-13 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.
Cumberlands: Coach Matt Rhymer is in his 5th season at the Head Football Coach for the University of the Cumberlands.
Rhymer was graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in 2007 with a degree in Public Health, 2012 Maters of Teaching. He played football for the Patriots from 2003-2007 as a linebacker on a highly respected defensive unit. After graduation, Matt continued his education as he earned the opportunity to be a Graduate Assistant Coach and then a Full Time Assistant for the Patriots for five seasons and was part of four Mid-South Conference titles. Rhymer's ability to pay attention to detail, teach fundamentals, and connect with his players has given him the opportunity to become a great coach.
Rhymer, a native of Harlan, Kentucky, is married to the former Jessica Lowrie, they have two son's Weston Matthew and Bo Benjamin.
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!!!!!!
Two weeks ago, 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.
The Wildcats are in the Bluegrass Division with Georgetown, Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson, Cumberlands (KY), Pikeville, Thomas More and Cumberland games being divisional affairs.
Four MSC teams are ranked in the NAIA Coaches' Poll this week. Lindsey Wilson is No. 1 while Keiser is No.6. Georgetown is ranked 8th. Reinhardt dropped to No.13. Faulkner dropped out of the Top 25 but received votes. Bethel and Cumberlands also 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 returns home next week to meet MSC foe Georgetown with kick-off slated for noon CST.
Georgetown Coverage:
Live video:
https://bethelathletics.com/WildcatVision
Live stats:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20211009_iay1.xml
Live audio:
https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO