Cats Remain Undefeated with Home win over Pats
MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The No. 5 Bethel Wildcats played host to a very good University of the Cumberlands squad Saturday in Walter Butler Stadium in McKenzie.
The Wildcats trailed 3-0 after the first quarter. The Cats gained their footing to lead 7-3 in the second stanza, but the Patriots took a 10-7 lead going into the half. Bethel took charge in the third quarter and led 21-10 after three. The Cats would go on to win 28-17.
It was the conference opener for both teams. Bethel remained undefeated at 5-0 and 1-0 in the league. Cumberlands dropped to 3-2 and 0-1. It was Bethel's third straight win in the series which now finds the Patriots leading 8-6. The Cats have taken four of the last five.
Bethel was trailing 3-0 until Ben Nixon found Will Secker on a slant in pattern from 20 yards out to give the Cats a 6-0 margin. Oziel Hernandez nailed the point after to make it 7-3. UC took a 10-7 lead and went to the half leading by that score.
Another Nixon to Secker completion at the 8:02 mark of the third quarter gave the Cats a 14-10 lead. With 1:28 left in the quarter, C J Campbell rushed in from 11 yards out and the Cats took command at 21-10. Kade Hewitt scrambled in from a yard out and Bethel led 28-10. A late UC score made it 28-17. The Wildcat offensive line won the battle at the point of attack consistently during the second half.
Bethel outgained the Kentucky visitors 433-229 in total yards. The Cats defense held the Pats to just 41 rushing yards in the game. The Wildcats finished with 229 yards on the ground. Campbell led Bethel with 85 yards on eight carries. Nixon had 69 yards on 11 attempts. Nixon was 13-of-22 in the air for 213 yards. Secker had four receptions for 70 yards while Avont Burrris had four catches for 67 yards.
Hernandez nailed four point after attempts making him 17-of-17 on the season.
Bethel's defense was superb controlling the second half for the most point. Darrien Lewis who leads Bethel in tackles on the year led the Wildcats with eight tackles. He had three TFL's. Travarious Flood had six total tackles. T J Hart had several key plays including a key sack in the half. Jazzir Merricks picked off two Patriot passes giving him a team high four interceptions on the season.
On special teams, Brayden Johnson had a marvelous punt pinning the Pats inside their own one-yard line. The punt would later lead to a short field and a 40-yard scoring drive by the Wildcats.
Coach Micheal Jasper said, "We knew this would be a tough game. This league is rugged to say the least and its good to get the win in the conference opener. UC is a very good team, and they are well coached. I continue to love how our young men stay after it and find ways to win. We really didn't do anything different in the second half, we just executed better. Several guys stepped up and made key momentum plays. We will enjoy the victory and get ready for a tough road trip to Cumberland University next week."
The Cats go back on the road next week visiting Cumberland University in Lebanon. Kick-off versus the Phoenix is 1:30 p.m.
Watch for a complete preview of the game coming later at www.bethelathletics.com