Cats Host Arkansas Baptist in Season Opener
Cats Host Arkansas Baptist in Season Opener
Game Notes
Carroll County Schools Day
The Matchup
The Bethel Wildcats open their 2022 season Saturday hosting Arkansas Baptist. It will be the first ever meeting between the Buffaloes and the Wildcats. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. in Wildcat Stadium. The game will be the 478th game in program history. Bethel is 184-285-8 all-time. It will be the first of six home games the Cats will play this season. Bethel plays four of its first six games at home. They have five road games.
It is just the second year Arkansas Baptist has fielded a football team. Prior to joining the NAIA, the Buffaloes were a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) until after the 2020–21 school year. The Buffaloes were 0-7 last year and were outscored 423-56.
It will be Carroll County Schools Day at Wildcat Stadium. All teachers, administrators and students are invited with free admission. All are encouraged to wear school colors and or have a school ID.
Bethel plays in the tough Bluegrass Division of the Mid-South Conference. ABC plays as an NAIA Independent. The Buffaloes will begin competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference next year.
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/fball/2022-23/boxscores/20220827_ufel.xml
Tickets & Fan Attendance:
Ticket/fan policy - all are welcomed.
Purchase tickets in advance at: https://bethelathletics.com/bethel-box-office
Tickets can also be purchased digitally at the gate. It will be a cashless gate.
Gates open at 11:30 a.m.
Last Meeting & Series:
It will be the first meeting between the two programs.
Last Year & 2022 Season Preview:
(Bethel)
The Wildcat football program got back on the upswing in 2021 finishing with a 7-4 mark. The Cats hope to continue that momentum this fall. The 2022 schedule will as always be tough in what many believe is the toughest NAIA football league in the nation. Bethel competes in the rugged Bluegrass Division of the Mid-South Conference.
Six MSC teams were mentioned in the NAIA Football First Down PlayBook Top 25 Postseason Poll this past fall.
Lindsey Wilson was picked third in the poll. The Blue Raiders earned 381 points in the poll while going 12-1 and reaching the NAIA FCS Semifinals.
Keiser was No. 7 in the poll after receiving 306 points. The Seahawks were 9-3 and reached the FCS Quarterfinals.
Reinhardt was the last MSC team in the top ten of the postseason poll. The Eagles were slotted ninth and earned 289 points in the poll. Reinhardt went 9-3 and made a postseason appearance.
Georgetown was No. 16 in the poll. The Tigers received 184 points in the poll and were 8-2. Faulkner is the final conference team in the top 25. The Eagles were No. 24 after earning fifty-one points and going 8-2.
Southeastern was mentioned in the receiving votes section with three points.
The Wildcats face four of those teams this upcoming season.
After today's opener, second week action will find the Cats visiting the No. 9 Reinhardt Eagles in Waleska, Georgia. It will be the eighth meeting between the two with RU holding a 5-2 advantage in the series. The September 3rd kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
The Cats return home to battle Point University on the 10th. The game begins at 1 p.m. with Bethel holding a 1-0 margin in the series.
After an open date, the Wildcats return to action at home on September 24th. The UPIKE Bears will come calling with the kickoff at 1 p.m. After Bethel's win last year, the series is tied at 4-4.
The Cats hit the road the following week traveling to Georgetown on the first day of October. GC leads the series 12-3. The Wildcats and Tigers will kick off at 12:30 CT. It marks the first time Bethel will play a Tiger squad not coached by GC legend Bill Cronin. Cronin retired as head coach of the Tigers after the past season.
The Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands will be in McKenzie on October 8th. It will be a night game slated for 7 p.m. UC leads the all-time series 8-3.
On October 15, the Cats travel to Taylor County, Kentucky, to face the Tigers of Campbellsville at 12:30 p.m. CT. The Tigers lead the series 10-8.
The Cats will face Thomas More the following week playing host to the Saints on Homecoming at 1 p.m. The series is tied 2-2.
Bethel goes back to the Commonwealth on the 29th. Kickoff in Columbia against the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT. LWC has a 6-2 advantage in the series.
The last regular season game will be a home game on November 5th. Faulkner will be in the house for Senior Day beginning at 1 p.m. Bethel has a 5-4 lead in the series.
Bethel closes out the regular season on November 12 at Cumberland University. The programs have met 33 times with Cumberland holding a 20-12-1 lead between the two. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Lebanon.
The Wildcats will need to replace several program record setters. De'Ontay Tate finished with 1,098 rushing yards last year. He became just the 13th Wildcat to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He finished his career with 3,427 yards which is fourth all-time in Wildcat history. Tate had 13 rushing touchdowns on the season. Tate was a first team MSC All-Conference performer.
Quarterback Nolan Chowbay threw 30 touchdowns last 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. Chowbay was named to the MSC All-Conference second team.
The Cats will also need to replace key members in Mike Malone, Dieuly Aristilde, Riley Wood, Hayden Brophy, Michael McClain, Austin Brock, Keyshawn Brummett, and Jared Gentry. Gentry played only eight games because of injuries but still had an all-conference season. He had 29 total tackles with 7.5 of those being tackles for losses. Gentry also had a fumble recovery during the season. Aristilde and Gentry signed pro contracts earlier this year.
The Wildcats have several key performers returning. Wide receiver James Dixon was the Bluegrass Offensive Freshman of the Year. Dixon led the Bluegrass Division and ranked sixth in the NAIA with 1,116 receiving yards. He averaged 101.5 receiving yards per game with 14 touchdown receptions, which also led the Bluegrass last year. Before the season only one Wildcat had 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Isaiah Hookfin had 1,052 in 2003. Dixon 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. Dixon was also named to the MSC Champion of Character team. Dixon was named to the first team as a wide receiver.
Prior to last 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 finished the season with 311 career stops. Griffin already holds the single season record with 126 tackles in 2019. He had 102 this past season. Freshman Brody Franks had 99 tackles on the season.
Defensive back Vonte Bates is back after an outstanding season. Bates had 99 total tackles on the season. Bates also had three interceptions and was named first team All-Conference.
Devious Christmon is back after having five interceptions last year. He was a first team all-conference selection. Christmon moved to third on the all-time program list for career interceptions with 12.
The offensive line returns several key members including Tyler McCoin and Cole Lyles. Lyles was a first team all-conference selection last year.
Tight end Quashawn Ford was named to the second team all-conference squad. Other key veterans returning are D.J. James, Anthony Hughes and Stavonski Wilkes.
Coach Jasper shared his thoughts on key returners, new faces, the schedule and season. "I am excited about our program and the opportunities that are ahead of us. We have some shoes to fill, but we also return a lot of good ball players and some key role players that have been in the program, understand how we operate, and are eager to uphold the standard. We have added some great coaches and mentors to the staff which is going to really aid our guys in development as well as bring some new ideas to the table schematically, so that really excites me and the returners on the staff from last season. Our mid-year signees and summer transfers are going to have to come in and step up early. We saw some good things out of Joaquin Collazo, a quarterback from Tusculum College, and were able to add some weapons around him like Logan Davis at tackle, Kayvon Anderson at wideout, Terrance Roberts at running back, a stellar athlete in Cam Jordan from Navy, and several others on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively we have one of the best secondaries in the country and we were able to add some quality guys up front in Nick Andrews and Markel Crawford. We added some playmakers at linebacker in Jeremy Boyland and Gary Anderson. Our freshman class has some great additions as well. We have four TSSAA football state champions and several great young players from New York that have made their way down to the Southeast." Coach Jasper summed up his thoughts. "I feel confident in the job the staff has done putting together a great roster and now it is up to us as to put them in position to be successful. It is no secret the Mid-South is the toughest small college football conference there is, so we will have our work cut out for us, but we have guys that are up for the task."
(ABC)
Playing a hybrid schedule which included NAIA and junior college squads the Buffaloes were 0-7 last year and were outscored 423-56.
Head Coaches:
Michael Jasper enters his fourth year as the Head Coach of the Wildcats in 2022-23.
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 and oversaw the strength and conditioning program.
In 2021, the Wildcats were 7-4 overall, 4-3 in the Mid-South Conference and 2-1 against opponents ranked in the top eight in the country. Coach Jasper's career record is 15-14 overall and 9-12 in conference play.
Before joining the Bethel staff, Jasper served as Offensive and Defensive Line Assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y.
Mike spent three years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and 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 and was as an offensive and defensive lineman from 2008-2010. He was the first-ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 with his selection 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 children Davis Reid, Millie Claire and Samuel David reside in McKenzie. Their rescue dog is named Caine.
Jasper is the 12th head coach in Bethel football history.
James Wilson coaches Arkansas Baptist.
Did You Know?
The 2022 Football Media Guide will be available soon 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!!!!!!
Premium Parking Now Available for Football Fans. Bethel Director of Athletics Brad Chappell announced earlier football fans will now have the opportunity to enjoy premium parking at Bethel's home football games. The Wildcats have six home games this season. The season and home opener is slated for August 27 at 1 p.m. as the Cats host Arkansas Baptist. Fans can purchase a Gold Lot Season parking pass for 90.00. The Gold Lot is located directly behind the stadium entrance. Fans can also park in the Purple Lot for 50.00. The Purple Lot will be located directly north of the stadium. If spaces are still available after season passes are sold, they will be sold on a game-to game basis at 10.00 each. Both lots will be staffed by Bethel security and lot attendants. There remains free parking on campus in front of Crisp Arena and areas north of the stadium and the reserved parking areas. To secure your parking pass in advance, visit the ticket and parking links on the main athletic page. https://bethelathletics.com/tickets
Seventeen different states are represented on the Bethel squad.
A very special VIP will be introduced at halftime. Stay in your seats and see who it is!!!!!
Homecoming will be celebrated this year on October 22. The week includes the 2022 Hall-of-Fame Induction ceremonies. The Cats will host Thomas More University. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.
Several changes to the staff have been made with new personnel and duties.
Bethel Mourns Loss of Beloved Hall of Famer and Former Director of Athletics
The entire Bethel University family is mourning the loss of beloved Athletics Hall of Fame member and former Director of Athletics at the school in the passing of Dale Kelley. Mr. Kelley passed away early Saturday evening at his home in Huntingdon surrounded by his loving family.
Kelley recently stepped down as athletics director after serving in that capacity since July 2012.
Mr. Kelley not only had immeasurable impact on Bethel, the city of Huntingdon, Carroll County and West Tennessee but also leaves a legacy across the entire state of Tennessee and nation.
Bethel Director of Athletics, Brad Chappell said, "Dale Kelley's impact on West Tennessee as a civic leader and visionary will be felt by generations to come. His impact on collegiate athletics is legendary, and his impact on me personally is profound. It simply cannot be put into words - I will miss him and my heart aches for his family. Bethel University mourns with them."
Bethel President Walter Butler expressed his thoughts on the passing of his longtime friend. "Our hearts are saddened with the passing of our Bethel University alumni, former co-worker and dear friend. His legacy to our university as a student, graduate and Director of Athletics will live on for generations to come. Dale Kelley lived his life to help others in our area, state and even across our nation. He lived to improve our local area and to create jobs that changed lives. He loved to help young people achieve their goals. Our local area has lost truly 'one of a kind'. I have never met anyone like Dale Kelley. He has been my friend since 1963 when he became my Little League Baseball Coach."
President Butler added, "Our prayers are with his wife, Carlene and his three children--Amanda, Meredith and Cliff and their families. We mourn with his family but can rejoice in the fact that we were blessed to know a Coach, a County Official, a State Representative, a Mayor, a Commissioner, an Athletic Director and a friend to all. Our lives were blessed because we all knew Dale."
Bethel is also mourning the loss of Tennessee Highway Patrol Sergeant & Hero Lee Russell, a McKenzie native who passed away in a tragic accident in East Tennessee.
For the complete article on Mr. Kelley's passing, please visit: www.bethelathletics.com
We ask all of you to remember the Kelley and Russell families in your thoughts and prayers.
Game Officials:
Referee – Jake Grombach
Umpire – Robby Young
Head Line Judge – Kevin Jackson
Line Judge – Brett St. Clair
Side Judge – Zach Sanders
Field Judge – Paul Herchenhahn
Back Judge – Daniel Rogers
2022 Bethel University Football Staff
Head Coach - Michael Jasper (4th season)
Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator - Chris Springer (5th season)
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator - Jay Bright (2nd season)
Offensive Assistant - Montgomery Allison (1st season)
Defensive Line Coach - Troy Brewer (1st season)
Director of Sports Performance - Brighton Hill (1st season)
Senior Defensive Analyst - Terrell Jackson (2nd season)
Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Linebackers Coach - Dustin Kincaid (3rd season)
Assistant Offensive Line Coach - Austin Kisrow (1st season)
Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach - Cody McCallister (4th season)
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach - Greg Meyer (1st season)
Half Backs/Tight Ends Coach - Bret Peterson (2nd season)
Assistant Special Teams/Assistant Wide Receivers Coach - Hunter Scott (1st season)
Running Backs Coach - Jake Sisk (1st season)
Assistant Defensive Line Coach - Jamel Warren (1st season)
Official Game Day Program: https://bethelathletics.com/
Next Week:
After the opener, second week action will find the Cats visiting the No. 9 Reinhardt Eagles in Waleska, Georgia. It will be the eighth meeting between the two with RU holding a 5-2 advantage in the series. The September 3rd kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
Golden Boosters and sponsors for Bethel Athletics this year are:
West Tennessee Public Utilities
Smith & Smith Optometry
Copies Unlimited
Steven Morton & State Farm Insurance
Trevathan's Electrical Services
Maddox Insurance LLC
Block City Pizza
Carroll Bank & Trust