Posted: Sep 05, 2024

Cats Host Crusaders-Game Notes

Cats Host Crusaders-Game Notes

MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders will meet Saturday in Walter Butler Stadium at 1 p.m. It will be the first meeting ever between the two programs. The Cats Walk will begin at 11:15 a.m. with gates opening at that same time.

Bethel is 57-45 since the stadium opened in 2006. Bethel is 146-185 all -time in overall play in the modern-day era.

The Match-up:

The No. 8 (NAIA D1) Wildcats are 1-0 after their 20-6 victory over Point University last week.

It will be the season opener for UMHB.

The Crusaders received votes in the American Football Coaches Association (NCAA D3) 2024 Preseason Top 25 Poll.

UMHB was 6-4 last year.

Stats:

https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2024-25/boxscores/20240907_ka7x.xml

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWk3fNsRyRUvgB_HBblmEEQ

Tickets:

https://www.bethelathletics.com/tickets

Last Meeting:

It will be the first meeting ever between the two schools.

Last Week:

A packed Walter Butler Stadium for the first night game in three years saw the No. 8 Bethel Wildcats outlast the Point University Skyhawks Saturday night. The Cats won 20-6 in the season opener for both squads. Bethel moved to 57-45 all-time in the stadium which opened in 2006. Bethel is 4-0 versus Point with two of those victories in McKenzie.

Both defensive squads had their way in the first half. The only score was a pick six by Bethel's Jacious Clark who intercepted a Point pass and returned it for 53 yards and a score. The point after by freshman Stafford Roditis gave the Cats a 7-0 lead. It was the only score of the first half by either team.

After a scoreless third stanza, Bethel's offense got on the board early in the fourth quarter when Offensive Coordinator Jay Bright pulled out a trick play. QB Avaun Rucker handed the ball off to Will Secker who in return gave the ball back to Rucker who found Avont Burrus open in the endzone for a 27-yard touchdown.

Point cut the Bethel margin to 14-6 with 11:34 to play but the Wildcats put the game away when Rucker hit newcomer TeeJay Taylor from four yards out and the Wildcats won 20-6. Taylor caught six passes for 73 yards. Secker had three receptions for 37 yards. Jordan Cason carried the ball 12 times for a team high 63 yards. Rucker finished 7-of- 12 with two touchdowns and 72 yards. Newcomer Kade Hewitt had 65 passing yards and 38 yards rushing.

Bethel had 299 total yards on offense.

Defensive Coordinator Chris Springer saw his defensive unit hold Point to just 185 total yards. The Wildcats picked off our passes and limited the Hawks to just 12 rushing yards. Gianni Gamble led Bethel with five total tackles. Brody Franks and Jazzir Merricks each had four total tackles and an interception. Point was just 4-of-14 on third down conversions.

Special Teams Coordinator Dustin Kincaid was pleased with his punter Brayden Johnson who averaged 46.3 yards on six punts.

Coach Michael Jasper said, "We are really proud of our program for gutting out a tough win. Point flat out came to play and we had to find ways to make plays. Once again, our defense was lights out, with multiple guys stepping up and making plays. The offense was hard to come by early, but we stayed the course and finished some drives we needed in order to come away with a win. There is a ton of work to do, but the kids this year are special and won't shy away from the hard work we have to put in."

Coaches:

Bethel:

Coach Michael Jasper (38-17) enters his sixth year as head coach of Bethel football in 2024-25. Coach Jasper also serves as associate athletic director of internal operations, a role he has held since 2022.

Before becoming head coach, Jasper served as 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.

The Wildcats are coming off consecutive 11-win seasons. Jasper was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year in 2022 after guiding Bethel to a conference title, the program's first 11-0 regular season and a No. 4 ranking in the NAIA national poll. He was named NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association in 2022. Under Jasper's direction, Bethel has qualified for the NAIA playoffs twice (2022 and 2023).

Before joining the Bethel staff, Jasper served as offensive and defensive line assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. He 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 2006 and was a starter on their 2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship team. After redshirting at Middle Tennessee State University, Jasper joined the Bethel Wildcats and was an offensive and defensive lineman from 2008 to 2010. He was the first-ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 with his selection by the Buffalo Bills.

He graduated from Bethel with a bachelor's degree in university studies. Mike and his wife Allison, along with their children Davis Reid, Millie Claire and Samuel David reside in McKenzie. Their rescue dog is named Caine.

UMHB

Larry Harmon was promoted to Head Football Coach in January 2022 after spending the previous 20 seasons as the Cru's defensive coordinator. Harmon guided the Cru to a 12-2 record in his first season at the helm as the Crusaders finished in the NCAA Division III Semifinals for the fifth time in program history.

The Crusaders were 6-4 in 2023.

Did You Know?

The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor is a private Christian university in Belton, Texas. UMHB was chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1845 as Baylor Female College, the female department of what is now Baylor University.

Bethel University Athletics and Worthy Road Studios, a leader in sports streaming, is in partnership for coverage of Bethel Athletic events again this year.

Worthy Road Studios will stream all home football games and selected home basketball games.

The video will feature upgraded production. Features such as slow-motion instant replays and different camera angles will be included.

Other high school teams covered by the BallGame Blitz Sports Network are USJ and South Gibson County and those games are broadcast to each High School's Facebook Page. We also broadcast all Union University home games including volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball and baseball. We broadcast Rockabilly Baseball, Bethel Football, and Lane College Football and Basketball! All of our BallGame Blitz games are archived to Worthy Road Studios YouTube Channel! Don't forget to subscribe to our Worthy Road Studios YouTube channel. Other games and sports are carried on the Wildcat streaming service at: https://bethelathletics.com/watch

For more on the Wildcats check out the 2024 season preview at:

https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2024-25/releases/20240724i31qp4

Bethel University athletics extends a special thanks to its Golden Sponsors this year:

Nicky Joe Stafford Real Estate

West Tennessee Public Utility District

Smith and Smith Optometry

Trevathan's Electrical Services

Carroll Bank and Trust

Anchor Transportation

Centennial Bank

Carroll County Lumber Company

Hometown Health Care