LEBANON, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats took a 10-0 first half lead only to see the Cumberland Phoenix score 21 unanswered points and beat the Cats 21-10 in Lebanon Saturday. Bethel dropped to 3-5 overall and remained winless in the MSC at 0-4. Cumberland moved to 4-3 and 2-2.
Weather conditions hampered both squads on offense. With high winds and rain moving through the mid-state area the teams combined for only 28 yards in passing. Bethel had a 224-142 advantage in rushing yards.
Chris Arrambide was 1 –for- 11 in the air with two interceptions for Bethel. Joseph Rushin was 6 -of -13 for the Phoenix. De'Ontay Tate led Bethel with 138 yards on 25 carries. Jakobe Griffin led Bethel with 7.5 tackles. Vonte Bates followed with seven stops while Jeremy Beaulieu had 6.5 tackles.
The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 23-yard field goal by Rodrigo Campos. In the second period the Cats upped their margin to 10-0 after a 59-yard run for a touchdown by Stavonski Wilkes. The rush was the longest of the season by a Wildcat.
The Phoenix got on the board in the second with Tony Bennet intercepting an Arrambide pass and returning it 30 yards for a touchdown. They took the lead late in the second stanza on a five yard run by Telvin Rucker. The home squad led 14-10 at the half.
The only score in the second half was a touchdown early in the fourth quarter by the Phoenix. Rushin scored on a one yard run to cap the scoring in the game.
Bethel returns home Saturday hosting the Thomas More Saints at 1:30 p.m. It will be Homecoming for the Wildcats.
WLJT-TV will televise the game on a delayed basis with airtime at 10 p.m. Saturday night and 11 p.m. Sunday night.
Live radio:
www.thefarmradio.com
Live video:
http://www.bethelathletics.com/WildcatVision
Live stats:
http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
