Top Ten Match-up Proves to be Just That
COLUMBIA, Ky. – The No. 6 Bethel Wildcats traveled to Columbia, Kentucky Saturday to meet the No. 3 Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson. The Cats snapped a Blue Raider 28 game conference winning streak with a 21-16 victory. The game came down to the very last play.
The contest proved worthy of a top ten match-up. It was the 486th game in program history and one of the if not the biggest win in regular season Bethel history.
Bethel moved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in league play. LWC dropped to 7-1 and 5-1.
The Wildcats took the opening kick-off and drove 76 yards to take a 6-0 lead. Keegan Huddleston gave the Wildcats the lead with an eight-yard run. Austin Abbott nailed the point after to make it 7-0 at the 5:25 mark. Bethel used 16 plays on the time-consuming drive. That would be the only score of the quarter.
Lindsey Wilson tied the game with 9:05 left in the second stanza. Jbias Dawson scooted in from three yards out and Ian Sauter tied it at seven all. That would be the only score in the second quarter.
Highlighting the first half on defense for Bethel was Jalon Sanders with a blocked field goal attempt. The Cat defense forced two other field goal attempts which proved to be big as both were missed.
LWC took the opening kick-off of the third quarter and moved down the field which resulted in a 41-yard field goal by Sauter which gave the Blue Raiders a 10-7 lead. That lead didn't last long however as Bethel's Demetrice Gilbert electrified the big Bethel road crowd with a 96-yard kick-off return at the 9:26 mark. Abbott hit the point after, and Bethel led 14-10.
A key play of the game came six minutes later with the Raiders driving. A lateral which resulted in a fumble saw Bethel's Marquese Taylor scoop the ball off the turf and go 85 yards for a score. Bethel led 21-10 with 3:47 remaining in the third. After a defensive stop later in the quarter, the Blue Raiders pulled to within 21-13 on a Sauter 45-yard field goal. Bethel led by that score going into the fourth.
Both defensive units dictated the tone of the game the rest of the way. The only score came with 3:31 left when Sauter nailed a 25-yard field goal.
After LWC forced Bethel to punt, the Blue Raiders took over at their 37-yard line and moved deep into Cat territory. On a fourth and goal from the Wildcat eight-yard line and with just 11 seconds to play, Taylor knocked down a pass in the endzone to preserve the win.
LWC held Bethel to season lows in rushing at 36 and 146 in passing. The 182 yards were the lowest for Bethel on the season. Lindsey Wilson racked up 495 yards of total offense in the game.
Terrance Roberts led Bethel in rushing with 38 yards. JD Dixon caught four passes for 58 yards. Joaquin Collazo was 15-of-19 in passing for 146 yards. It marked the first game on the season Collazo did not toss a touchdown pass. Kobe Belcher led LWC with 166 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Calen Warren led the Cat defense with 13 total tackles. Sanders followed with nine stops. Brandon Moore had a huge interception. Darel Middleton had two tackles for losses.
Lindsey Wilson entered the game yielding just 44 points (1st in the nation) in all their previous seven games. They had given up just 12 total points in the second half all year. Bethel was 6th best in the country at 12.4 points per outing.
Coach Michael Jasper said it was hard-fought affair. "I am so proud of these young men. They stay the course no matter what is thrown at them. They have a tremendous will and desire to win. Special teams and huge defensive plays were deciding factors. We beat a great team and program and will enjoy this for a few hours and get ready for a dangerous Faulkner squad." Jasper added. "We want to send a special thanks to all those fans who came to support us today. They were right behind our bench and really helped us today."
The Wildcats return home next Saturday hosting Faulkner University at 1:30 p.m. It will be Senior Day with football and cheer being honored in pregame ceremonies. Band members will be honored at halftime. It will also be Armed Services Day with a very special presentation made in honor of a former Wildcat.
Game Coverage
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