Wildcats Return Home to Face Tigers
Game Notes
Game Day Game Notes: https://www.bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2021-22/2021_Football_Game_Notes_vs._Georgetown.pdf
The Matchup
The Bethel Wildcats return home Saturday to face the No. 8 Georgetown Tigers. Kick-off is slated for noon at Wildcat Stadium. The Cats (3-2, 0-1) lost on the road this past week, falling 47-15 at Cumberlands. The Tigers (4-0, 1-0) beat UPIKE 52-14 in Georgetown.
It will be the 15th meeting between the two programs with the Tigers holding a 12-2 advantage in the series. Bethel's last win in the series was 2018.
Bethel was picked to finish fourth in the MSC Blue Grass Division Preseason Poll. GC was picked second in the division.
It will be the 472nd game in program history with Bethel's record at 180 -283 -8.
Live video:
https://bethelathletics.com/WildcatVision
Live audio:
https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO
Live stats:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20211009_iay1.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 10:30 a.m.
Last Meeting & Series:
It will be the 15th meeting between the two with GC holding a 12-2 margin in the series. Georgetown beat the Wildcats 17-14 in the abbreviated season this past spring.
Bethel last defeated the Tigers in 2018.
Last Week:
(Bethel)
The Wildcats returned to the road Saturday visiting the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. It was the first MSC divisional game for both squads. After the Wildcats held their own in the first half, the Patriots proved why they are the nation's leading scoring team at 59.0 points per game. A second half scoring binge by CU was too much for the Wildcats to overcome as Bethel would lose 47-15.
Bethel took a first quarter lead on an Austin Abbott 32-yard field goal. The kick at the 5:57 mark topped off a nine play 51-yard drive.
That score held until Ben Nixon hit Eli Evans on a two-yard pass to give the Patriots the lead. Trip Holloway's point after gave UC a 7-3 lead with 2:09 left in the half. After turning the Wildcats over, the Pats scored with four seconds left. Nixon connected on a seven-yard pass to Devin Jones to make it 14-3 at the half.
Devious Christmon picked off a Patriot pass in the third. The interception appeared to give the Cats renewed energy as they drove the ball 73 yards for a score. De'Ontay Tate capped the drive off with a two-yard run to make it 14-9. Abbott's point after failed and UC led 14-9.
Nixon put the Pats up 21-9 at the 6:09 mark of the third with a one-yard scamper. The score was a prelude of what was to come in the quarter. Devin Jones ran two yards four minutes later and Bethel trailed 27-9. Bethel fought back with a Nolan Chowbay strike to James Dixon from 65 yards out. The Bethel two-point conversion failed, and it was 27-15 with 1:32 left in the quarter.
Nixon scored again on a short run early in the fourth quarter and CU led 33-17 after the point after failed. With 11:51 left, Brandon Stuckey scored on a five-yard run and Bethel trailed 40-15. Jamar Nuby would add a late score on a short touchdown run and CU led 47-15.
Bethel had a 253-103 margin in passing yards, but UC had a 219-129 advantage in rushing yards.
Chowbay was 14-of-29 in the air for 252 yards. He threw for one touchdown but threw three interceptions on the night. Tate had 119 yards on 16 carries. Dieuly Aristilde caught six passes for 97 yards. Jakobe Griffin led Bethel with eight total tackles. Jerwin Young had two sacks.
Both squads struggled with penalties. Bethel had 12 for 104 yards. UC had 10 for 103 yards.
(GC)
When four of the nation's leading offensive teams are in one division, defense will play a huge factor. As was the case Saturday when Georgetown College football flexed its iron wall against a University of Pikeville team averaging 50-plus a game.
The No. 8 Tigers (4-0, 1-0) scored three defensive touchdowns – pick sixes – helping to break the Bears (2-2, 0-1) as they started Bluegrass divisional play with a 52-14 win.
Zyan Bethel got it going with a snag mid-air of a Lee Kirkland pass that he returned 24-yards and the home team led 14-0. The junior did it again early in the fourth. This time he took Kirkland's pass back 70-yards and might have served up the crushing blow. UPike, held scoreless the first 30 minutes, came out of the half to score twice in the third and were moving the ball for a potential third score to be down just 10. Bethel turned the tide and the visitors never threatened again.
Head Coaches:
Bethel's Michael Jasper is in his third year as head coach of the Wildcats. He is 14-14 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.
Georgetown's Bill Cronin is in his 25th season as head coach of the Tigers. Cronin has two national titles, four national championship appearances, 14 conference titles and 17 national tournament appearances. Cronin was inducted into the NAIA Hall-of-Fame in 2019.
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!!!!!!
Three 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.
Georgetown's (Ky.) Zyan Bethel was named the NAIA Football Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced Monday.
The national honor comes after Bethel was named the MSC Bluegrass Division Defensive Player of the Week earlier today.
Bethel returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Georgetown's (Ky.) 52-14 win over Pikeville (Ky.). His first pick-six covered 24 yards to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead and his second a 70-yard return for a score to push Georgetown's lead to 38-14. Bethel added three tackles and a breakup in the win. His two interceptions are his first of the season and move him into a tie for 25th in the NAIA in the category.
Bethel earns NAIA weekly honors for the first time in his career.
The Wildcats are in the Bluegrass Division with Georgetown, Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson, Cumberlands (KY), Pikeville, Thomas More and Cumberland games being divisional affairs.
Six 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. Reinhard moved up a spot to No. 12. Faulkner jumped into the poll at No. 20 while Cumberlands by the virtue of their impressive win over Bethel moved in at No. 21.
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 travels to Pikeville next week. Kick-off versus the Bears is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CST
Fans are invited to stick around after the game as both soccer squads will play later in the day. The women's action versus Life University begins at 4:30 p.m. while the men will play at 7 p.m.