MCKENZIE, Tenn. (Saturday, September 27, 2008) - After the Wildcats started the season 0-3, they were in need of a win and some confidence, they got both in their 31-21 victory over the Blazers of Belhaven College. The defense set the tone early and created six turnovers, while the offense showed signs of promise.
The defense gave the home crowd a chance to cheer early as Wade Vandergriff picked off an Andrew Carcich pass on the Blazers first play and returned it 11 yards for the score. Sean Fraser booted the PAT and the Wildcats took an early lead 7-0. Belhaven responded on their third possession. Facing third and four, Carcich couldn't find an open receiver and called his own number for a 56 yard gain. Two plays later and Carcich hit Kyle Henry for the Blazers first score, the PAT was good and the game was tied at 7-7 with 6:37 left in the first. The Wildcats hit right back on their following possession as Justin Woodard plunged in from the three yard line for a 14-7 lead with 1:33 remaining in the first.
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Bethel's Justin Woodard rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown. It marked the third time that Woodard has rushed for 100 or more yards this season. |
Bethel got on the board again on their first possession of the second quarter. Former Bethel soccer player, Sean Fraser, booted his second career field goal from 32 yards out and Bethel held a 17-7 advantage. Belhaven's next possession would be cut short as Antonio Wardlow recovered a Blazer fumble. Bethel had good field position but couldn't capitalize. Two possessions later and Donald Lightfoot picked off the first of two passes on the evening. That set up the Wildcats at the Blazers 22 yard line. Five plays later and quarterback Chad Lamping hit Blake Bragg in stride for a 17 yard touchdown. It was Bragg's first career touchdown for Bethel. On the final possession of the first half, Carcich was again picked off by Lightfoot.
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Bethel's Sean Fraser boots a 32-yard field goal. He was also a perfect 4 for 4 on PATs on the night. The former Wildcat soccer player is in his very first season of American Football. Fraser hails from New Castle, England. It was his second FG of the season. |
After a defensive hold to start the third quarter, the Wildcats needed only three plays to get on the board. The Lamping to Bragg combination worked again, this time for 49 yards. Bethel held a 31-7 advantage. Johnathan Deberry intercepted Carcich for the fourth time in the game and was Deberry's second INT of the season. The Wildcats' offense was unable to generate anything and the Blazers would not go away quietly. Belhaven's back up quarterback Jerred Wallace threw two touchdowns in the third frame, one for 52 and the other for 17 yards. That pulled the Blazers to within ten.
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Blake Bragg hauls in a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chad Lamping. This was the first touchdown for Bragg at Bethel. He also made a 49-yard highlight catch for a touchdown later in the game. |
With the Blazers facing fourth down at the start of the fourth quarter, Wardlow recovered his second fumble of the game giving the Wildcats the ball at their own 49 yard line. Once again, the Wildcat's offense sputtered as Lamping threw an interception at the Belhaven 14 yard line. Then the Wildcats defense did their part holding the Blazers on their next three offensive possessions to seal the win.
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Receiver John Graham looks to get some yards after the cacth. Graham had two catches including this one on 3rd and 10 for 21 yards. |
Defensively, the Wildcats forced six turnovers. Dominique Davis led the way with seven unassisted tackles. Chancey DePriest had six stops, a sack and a tackle for loss. Vandergriff had six stops to go with his interception for a touchdown. Coming back from an injury Sean McCormick had five unassisted stops. Lightfoot's two interceptions leaves him three short of the Bethel career record.
Offensively, Justin Woodard went over the century mark in rushing for the third time this year posting 106 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Fullback Steve Jarrett carried five times for 46 yards. Lamping was 12 of 26 for 164 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked five times. Bragg had two catches, both for touchdowns and a total of 66 yards. Desmond Newbold had three grabs for 43 yards. John Graham had two grabs for a total 40 yards on the night including a key catch on third down. Fraser was 4 of 4 on PATs and kicked a 32 yard field goal.
The Wildcats will remain in conference division play next week as they head to Lebanon, Tenn. on Saturday, October 4, 2008 to play the Bulldogs of Cumberland University at 1:30pm. Last season the Wildcats defeated the Bulldogs 54-15 in McKenzie.
