NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - The Thresher Football team is preparing for a matchup of two top 25 teams this weekend as they travel to Winfield to take on #15 Southwestern. The Moundbuilders jumped over the #16 Threshers in the latest NAIA Football Rankings.
 
Bethel's most recent contest came against the Bethany Swedes. A contest in which the Threshers would handle easily as they would jump ahead big in the first quarter on their way to cruising to a 69-6 victory over the Swedes. 
 
Freshman quarterback DJ Ciers earned his first start of the season with an injury to Landon Barnes. Ciers threw for 79 yards and a touchdown while adding in 68 yards and three touchdowns with his legs. Tucker Smith led the ground attack for the Threshers as he rushed just 4 times accumulating 167 yards and three touchdowns. Chantz Scurry also rushed for over 100 yards in the historic evening for the Bethel offense. The Thresher offense set two school records against the Swedes, rushing yards in a game at 619 yards and total offense with 697 yards.
 
The Moundbuilders are coming off of a 45-34 victory over McPherson College on Saturday. The Southwestern offense is led by senior quarterback Luke Barnes. Barnes is averaging 297 yards per game through the air. The Moundbuilder rushing game is led by senior running back Keyshawn Wyatt who has rushed for just under 78 yards per game this season. Keyshawn Jones leads the Southwestern receiving core with 33 catches and over 500 yards on the season. He is currently averaging over 100 yards receiving per game. The Moundbuilder defense is led by junior linebacker Josh Carter. Carter is averaging 10 tackles per game so far this season. 
 
This contest is setting up to be a battle of two high-powered offenses against two quality defenses. The Threshers are averaging 515 yards and 43 points per game on offense while giving up 251 yards and 11 points per game on defense. The Bethel defense currently leads the country in sacks with 22. The Moundbuilders average just over 481 yards and 39 points per game on offense while giving up 328 yards and 16 points per game on defense.
 
Saturday's contest is set for a 1:00 PM kick-off inside Richard L. Jantz Stadium on the campus of Southwestern College.