MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcat football team snapped a four game losing streak Saturday afternoon holding on to beat Thomas More 35-28. The win moved Bethel to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the MSC Bluegrass Division. TMU fell to 3-6 and 1-4.
Thomas More scored first and took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Saint Quarterback Justin Post hit Da' Marco Canty on a for-yard TD pass. Alex Barnhart's PAT was good.
The Wildcats gave their Homecoming crowd something to cheer about when De'Ontay Tate scored on a seven-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first stanza. Rodrigo Campos tied the game with his extra point.
Bethel took a 14-7 lead when QB Christian Arrambide tossed a 36-yard TD pass to a wide open J'Kobi Reddick with 11:32 left in the half.
After a Wildcat fumble, TMU tied the game with just 36-seconds left in the half. Justin Post found Justin Durham from 22-yards out and the Saints knotted the score at 14 all.
The Wildcats dominated the third quarter as Bethel's offensive line seized control of the game. Arrambide scampered in from two yards and after the Campos PAT the Wildcats led 21-14. The Wildcats extended the lead to 28-14 on a four-yard jet sweep by Caleb Nelson. Late in the quarter, Bethel looked to be in complete control as Arrambide scored again on a three-yard effort. Campos made it 35-14 with 2:33 left in the third quarter.
Thomas More fought back and cut the Cat lead to 35-21 on another Post to Canty TD pass. The 16-yard play and PAT by Barnhart made it interesting. With ten minutes left the Saints made it a one possession game when Canty scored on a 26-yard TD pass from Post.
The Wildcats were able to stave off a late thrust by the Saints and took the 35-28 victory.
Bethel outgained TMU 464-413 in total yards. Tate led Bethel with 96 rushing yards. Dieuly Aristilde caught five passes for 120 yards. Kylan Woods led Bethel with 11 total tackles and knocked down a potential scoring pass late in the contest to help preserve the win. Jalen Warren had an interception for the Wildcats.
See attached stat file for a complete rundown of the game.
Bethel hits the road for their last away game of the season as they travel to UPike for a 5 p.m. CST kick-off Saturday.
