Wildcats Host Tigers on Senior Day
Game Notes
For Complete Game Notes visit:
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The Matchup
The Bethel Wildcats close out their regular season Saturday hosting the Campbellsville Tigers at 1:30 p.m. in Wildcat Saturday. It will be Senior Day with ceremonies taking place before kick-off at 1:01 p.m.
The Wildcats are coming off two losses in a row. They suffered a disappointing loss to Thomas More this past week. The prior loss was to No. 1 Lindsey Wilson two weeks ago.
Gates will open at 11:50 a.m. The Wildcat Walk will begin in front of Crisp Arena at 11:40 a.m.
The Cats (6-4, 3-3) lost to TMU 24-14 last week. The Tigers (1-7,1-5) lost to No. 1 Lindsey Wilson 77-14 in Columbia.
Bethel was picked to finish fourth in the MSC Blue Grass Division Preseason Poll. The Tigers were picked eighth.
It will be the 477th game in program history with Bethel's record at 183 -285-8.
Series:
It will be the 18th meeting between the two with the Tigers holding a 10-7 advantage in the series. Bethel won back in the spring abbreviated season 39-14 in McKenzie.
The Wildcats have won three in a row in the series. Bethel is 1-7 in McKenzie versus CU and 3-6 in Campbellsville. The programs first met in 1994.
Live Stats:
https://www.bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20211030_mbmh.xml
Video:
https://www.bethelathletics.com/WildcatStreaming
Tickets:
https://www.bethelathletics.com/bethel-box-office
Radio:
https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO
For Complete Game Notes visit:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/Football_Game_Notes
Last Week:
(Bethel)
The Wildcats went into Saturday's Homecoming game versus Thomas More knowing they needed a win to keep postseason hopes alive. After giving No. 1 Lindsey Wilson all they wanted last week, the Cats could not overcome seven turnovers in their 24-14 loss to the Saints.
Bethel dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Mid-South Conference. The Saints improved to 5-4 and 4-2.
The TMU win evened the series between the two at 2-2.
Saint kicker Alexander Haley hit a 25-yard field goal to open the scoring with 1:34 remaining in the first quarter to give the Saints a 3-0 lead after one.
TMU's Chaz Lumpkin intercepted a Bethel pass and returned it 85 yards to give the Saints a 10-0 lead with 13:57 left in the half.
Bethel's Anthony Hughes scored on a one yard run to cut into the TMU lead. Luis Morales converted on the point after, and Bethel trailed 10-7 with 7:30 left in the half.
The Saints answered with a four-yard touchdown run to give TMU a 17-7 lead at the break.
The Saints opened the third impressively with a 60-yard drive capped off by a Blaine Espinosa 18-yard pass to Charles Gaines Jr. for a score giving TMU a 24-7 margin.
Bethel stayed in the game with a Nolan Chowbay TD pass to James Dixon to pull the Cats to within 10 at 24-14 at the end of three.
Bethel had their chances but two crucial interceptions by the Saints sealed Bethel's fate. TMU picked off six Bethel passes and recovered a Wildcat fumble. Bethel simply could not overcome their mistakes.
The Wildcats had a 317 -159 margin in passing yards. TMU outrushed the Wildcats 196-166.
Ray'Quan Wilson had seven receptions for 98 yards. Dixon caught six passes for 125 yards. De'Ontay Tate had 71 yards rushing giving hm 3, 292 yards in his career. He is fourth on Bethel's all-time rushing list.
Brody Franks led Bethel with 11 total tackles. Vonte Bates followed with 10 stops. Jakobe Griffin had seven total tackles.
Coach Michael Jasper said in his postgame radio interview, "We simply made too many mistakes. You cannot and will not beat a good football team making that many mistakes. We had our chances but could not sustain any kind of rhythm on offense and despite playing hard on defense we did not get a couple of stops when we really needed them." Coach Jasper added, "I still love my kids and still believe in our program. We will strap them back on and prepare for our Senior Day game versus Campbellsville next week."
(CU)
The Tigers made their way down Highway 55 to battle the #1 Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders Saturday afternoon losing 77-14.
At the half, Lindsey Wilson College had almost double the number of total yards to that of Campbellsville. The Blue Raiders stood at a total of 415 yards whereas the Tigers had 241. Lindsey Wilson also beat Campbellsville in third down efficiency percentage. The Blue Raiders held a 100 percent efficiency while the Tigers stood at just 20 percent. The average play difference was significant as well at the end of the half. Campbellsville had 5.1 average yards per play and Lindsey Wilson has 13.4 yards per play.
The final score was 77-14 in favor of Lindsey Wilson. Lindsey held a total of 37 first downs compared to Campbellsville's 15. The Blue Raiders recorded a total of 635 yards versus the Tigers 312 yards.
Head Coaches:
Bethel's Michael Jasper is in his third year as head coach of the Wildcats. He is 17-16 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.
Campbellsville's Perry Thomas is in his 14th season as head coach of the Fighting Tiger football program in 2021.
After a 4-6 record in 2013, Thomas has turned the football program around and has recorded the most successful five-year stint in CU history. In 2014 and 2015, the Fighting Tigers have a 15-7 record and knocked off five teams that were ranked inside the NAIA Top 8. Campbellsville broke 23 program records in 2015 en route to winning its second-straight Mid-South Conference West Division title and earning two-straight NAIA Football Championship Series playoff berths.
The MSC title in 2014 was the first since 1997 and the playoff berth was the first since 2001.
The Tigers took a step back in 2016 by going 2-8 overall. CU battled season-ending injuries and only starting one upperclassmen on the defensive side of the ball.
But in 2017, Campbellsville was one win away from another NAIA playoff berth. The NCCAA selected the Fighting Tigers to participate in the Victory Bowl and Campbellsville won its second championship with a 41-28 win over SAGU.
The Tigers were haunted by injuries in 2018 after All-Conference slot receiver Keanu Young went down with a season-ending injury in the spring of 2017 and the Tigers went 4-6.
Campbellsville once again was bit by the injury bug with All-Conference receiver Keanue Young getting injured in the first game of the season. CU went 1-9.
Thomas inherited the Campbellsville University football program in December 2007, coming off an 0-10 season. After posting a 3-8 record his first season in 2008, and finishing runner-up in the Mid-South Conference East Division in 2009 at 7-4, Thomas' program was named the No. 20 most improved program in all levels of college football and the No. 6 most improved in the NAIA. In 2010, he posted a 7-5 record, giving the Tigers their first back-to-back winning seasons in nearly a decade and took CU to the postseason for the first time since 2001 with a trip to the NCCAA Victory Bowl. The Tigers returned to the Victory Bowl in 2011, winning their first NCCAA title on their home field.
Did You Know?
The 2021 Football Media Guide is 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 James Dixon was named MSC Offensive Player of the Week three weeks ago. Brandon Moore was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Earlier this season, 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.
Bates was awarded the POW award again two weeks ago.
The Wildcats are in the Bluegrass Division with Georgetown, Campbellsville, Lindsey Wilson, Cumberlands (KY), Pikeville, Thomas More and Cumberland games being divisional affairs.
Five Mid-South Conference Teams are ranked in the ninth regular season NAIA Football First Down PlayBook Top 25 Poll, the NAIA announced on Monday.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) sits atop the poll with 444 points and 18 of the 19 first-place votes. The Blue Raiders are 9-0 this season and 6-0 in Bluegrass Division play. Lindsey Wilson travels to Cumberlands (Ky.) on Saturday.
Reinhardt (Ga.) moved up one spot to No. 7. The Eagles earned 342 points in the poll and are 8-2 this season and 5-0 in the Appalachian Division. Reinhardt travels to Kentucky Christian on Saturday.
Keiser (Fla.) remained at No. 12 after earning 264 points in the poll. The Seahawks are 7-2 and 4-1 in the Sun Division. Keiser travels to Ave Maria (Fla.) on Saturday.
Georgetown (Ky.) fell one spot to No. 17. The Tigers earned 176 points in the poll and are 7-2 this season and 4-2 in the Bluegrass Division. Georgetown hosts Cumberland (Tenn.) on Saturday.
Faulkner (Ala) and Southeastern (Fla.) are both mentioned in the receiving votes section of the poll. Faulkner earned seven points in the poll while Southeastern earned six.
The final regular season poll is scheduled to come out on Sunday, November 14.
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.
Coach Jasper is in his third season as head coach.
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