Football Cats set Records and Beat Tigers on Senior Day
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats closed out their regular season with a record setting day Saturday on Senior Day at Wildcat Stadium. The Cats beat Campbellsville 46-21 to close out at 7-4 overall and 4-3 in MSC play. The Tigers finished 1-8 and 1-6.
The game was tied at seven all at the end of one. Bethel exploded for 28 second quarter points to lead 35-14 at the half. The Cats put the game out of doubt as they increased the margin to 46-14 after three.
Bethel had a 487 to 299 advantage in total yards. Bethel had a balanced offensive attack with 206 yards on the ground and 281 yards in the air.
A Day of Records:
Bethel's De'Ontay Tate had 135 yards giving him 1, 098 on the year. He became just the 13th Wildcat to rush for over 1, 000 yards in a season. He finished his career with 3, 427 yards which is 4th all-time in Wildcat history. Tate rushed for three touchdowns in the game giving him 13 on the season.
Nolan Chowbay threw three touchdowns in the game, giving him 30 on the year. He passed Sam Castronova who had 28 in 2018. Chowbay finished the year with 3, 232 passing yards which is the most in a single season in Wildcat history.
Before this season only one Wildcat had 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Isaiah Hookfin had 1,052 in 2003. Freshman James Dixon entered the game Saturday with 961. Dixon caught four passes for 155 yards. He finished with the year with 1, 116.
Dixon had 14 touchdown receptions on the year which is second only behind Hookfin who had 15 in 2003
Prior to this season only three Wildcats finished their career with 300 or more total tackles. Tyler Murray and Jeremy Beaulieu were tied at No. 1 with 325. Hunter Pingston finished his hall-of-fame career with 318. Bethel junior linebacker Jakobe Griffin began the year with 209. He surpassed the 300-career mark last week versus Thomas More and finished the year with five total tackles against CU. He finished the year with 311 career stops. Griffin already holds the single season record with 126 tackles in 2019. He had 102 this season. Vonte Bates had seven stops Saturday and finished with 99 total tackles on the season. Freshman Brody Franks led the Cats Saturday with nine stops and had 99 on the season.
Although not a record, Bethel used the old muddle play to score on a two-point conversion attempt. With most of the lineman lined up to the left holder Caleb Hall hit center Riley Wood on a pass over the middle.
Bethel kicker Luis Morales nailed a career high 35-yard field goal.
The victory sent the Wildcat seniors out on a high note. Tate, Mike Malone, Chowbay, Dieuly Aristilde, Wood, Hayden Brophy, Michael McClain, Cole Lyles, Austin Brock, Keyshawn Brummett, Jared Gentry, and student assistant Ian Harris were honored in pregame ceremonies.
Coach Michael Jasper was pleased for his seniors and the game. "It was nice to see our seniors go out such a high note. I can't say enough about each of these young men. Each one of them have played a part in enabling us to continue to build for even a better future." Coach Jasper added, "We got off to a slow start, but we put it together on both sides of the ball in the second and third quarters. We will build on this game as we work with our returners and hit the recruiting trail as well."
