Cats Back Home to Host Patriots -Game Notes
The No. 8 Bethel Wildcats return to the friendly confines of Wildcat Stadium Saturday to host the Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. It is October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Night. All fans are encouraged to wear purple.
The Cats are coming off an impressive 28-14 road win at then ranked No. 8 Georgetown. Bethel is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the MSC.
The Patriots are 3-2 and 1-2 after their 10-6 Homecoming win over Cumberland University this past weekend.
The game will be the 483rd game in program history. Bethel is 189-285-8 all-time. It will be the fourth 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.
Listen:
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/20221008_5o6r.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 5:30 a.m.
Last Meeting & Series:
A second half scoring binge by CU was too much for the Wildcats to overcome as Bethel would lose 47-15 last year in Williamsburg.
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.
This year's game will be the 12th meeting between the two programs with the Patriots leading the series 8-3.
Last Week:
(Bethel)
The Wildcats traveled to No. 8 Georgetown Saturday to face the Tigers in a key MSC showdown.
The Tigers took the opening kick-off and marched 69 yards on 12 plays and took the lead at the 10:24 mark. Drew Hartz threw a 13-yard touchdown to Darius Neal. The point after by Chris Cline gave Georgetown the 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats scored at the 13:29 mark of the second. Taylor Yancey threw a five- yard scoring pass to Quashawn Ford. The play capped off a nine play 56- yard drive. The point after was blocked.
The game turned into a defensive battle the remainder of the half. The Cats outgained the Tigers in total yards, 168-96 but trailed 7-6 at the break.
Bothe teams struggled in third down efficiency in the half. Bethel was just 2-of-8 while GC was just 2-of-9 in third down attempts.
The Wildcats pulled off a trick play in the third when punter Caleb Hall on a fourth and ten from his own 43- yard line passed to Darius Prather for a first down. The 22-yard pass kept the drive alive but a 22-yard field goal attempt by Austin Abbott was blocked.
The Cats would not be denied however as they would take the lead a series later. With 8:41 left in the third, Yancey finished off a 51 -yard drive with a one- yard rush. The Cats converted on the two- point try as Joaquin Collazo passed to Colby Johnson to give Bethel a 14-7 advantage.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 21-7 with 3:09 left in the third. On a defected 12-yard pass into the end zone, J D Dixon leaped high to give the Cats a 20-6 margin. Abbott's PAT gave Bethel a two-touchdown lead.
Bethel's defense dominated the third quarter holding Georgetown to just three total yards in offense.
Bethel moved the margin to 24-7 with 13:32 left in the game when Abbott knocked through a 22-yard field goal.
The Tigers scored with 9:13 remaining when Neal rushed in from five yards out. Cline's extra point made it 24-14.
The Cats would go on to win 24-14.
Bethel outgained the Tigers 418-194. The Cats had 277 yards passing and 141 in rushing.
Collazo was 19-of-33 in the air for 250 yards. Terrance Roberts had a career high 121 yards on 32 carries. Dixon had six receptions for 90 yards.
Calen Warren led the Cats on defense with seven total tackles. Vonte Bates followed with five total stops. Brandon Moore, Devious Christmon and Jakobe Griffin had interceptions in the game. Christmon's pick was his 13th career interception which ties him for second most in program history.
(UC)
The Patriots football special teams lived up to their name highlighted by three blocks on the day, while the defense held the Phoenix to six points to earn a 10-6 win over Cumberland last week at James H. Taylor, II Stadium.
Head Coaches:
Michael Jasper is in his fourth year as the Head Coach of the Wildcats.
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 20-14 overall and 10-12 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.
Shan Housekeeper is in his first season as the Head Football Coach of the Patriots after being hired in January 2022 to be the sixth Patriots coach.
Prior to Cumberlands, Housekeeper spent 14 years on the coaching staff at Georgetown College. During his time as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Tigers, Georgetown has had one of the best defenses in the NAIA. Shan has earned numerous praises and accolades including being named the 2021 Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division Assistant Coach of the Year, the Donna Hawkins Coaching for Significance Award in 2018, and was nominated for the 2017 National Coordinator of the Year. While a member of the Tigers staff, Georgetown has been ranked in the top-ten of the NAIA in opponents points per game and yards per games five times. Georgetown has also closed out the past 12 seasons ranked in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll with five Mid-South Conference titles and six post season appearances.
In addition to being the defensive coordinator at Georgetown, Housekeeper also served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach as well as worked countless summer football camps. In his time with Georgetown, Housekeeper has coached five Mid-South Conference Defensive Players of the Year, 11 NAIA All-Americans, and 65 MSC All-Conference selections.
Not only has Housekeeper been a standout coach for the Tigers, he was a standout linebacker for Georgetown from 1999-2002 helping the Tigers to a pair of NAIA National Championship titles as well as a pair of NAIA national runner-up finishes. He was a two-time NAIA First Team All-American for the Tigers and in 2001 was named the Don Hansen Linebacker of the Year. After graduating from Georgetown, Housekeeper spent one season with the Lexington Horsemen helping them to a National Indoor Football League championship.
Housekeeper graduated from Georgetown in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration and Communication Arts. He is married to his wife Tabetha and they have three kids Zaden, Zyler, and Zimmery.
Did You Know?
The No. 8 ranking is the first time the program has been ranked in the top ten of the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll since 2018.
Bethel's Calen Warren was the MSC Defensive Player of the Week this past week.
The 2022 Football Media Guide is available now on the Bethel Athletic page. Keep up with the Cats this season with the on-line version at https://en.calameo.com/bethel-university/read/003316375f35c839aee6f
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!!!!!!
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and tonight we are wearing the color purple and our "Celebrating Survivors" wristbands to show our support. We have representatives from WRAP, the Women's/Men's Resource and Rape Assistance Program, and Bethel's Title IX and Prevention Services Department at tables near the entrance to the stadium handing out free resources and giveaways. We also have "The Clothesline Project" on display on the fences around the stadium with t-shirts made by domestic violence survivors and the loved ones of those who lost their lives to interpersonal violence. Make sure to check it out. Every1 Knows Some1 and it's time to break the silence!
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.
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.
Game Officials:
Referee – Bill Humphrey
Umpire – Todd Thomas
Head Line Judge – Paul Holba
Line Judge – Jordan Tarrence
Side Judge – Ramonte Dishman
Field Judge – Paul Bishop
Back Judge – David Rogers
Clock Operator – Barry Capps
Play Clock – Adam Welch
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 can also be found on the Bethel football page at: https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2022-23/2022_Football_Game_Notes_vs._Cumberlands.pdf
Next Week:
The Wildcats travel to Campbellsville to battle the Tigers. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. CST.
Live stats:
https://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2022-23/boxscores/20221015_ta4m.xml
Live video:
https://campbellsvilletigers.com/watch/
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