McPherson, Kan. - The Bethel Football team opened up play for the 2021 season at McPherson Thursday night in a game that would last until after 1:00 am. The Thresher defense would hold their shutout, while the offense would run for over 350 yards in the 24-0 victory.

Bethel would take the lead 3-0 on a four play, 41 yard drive that would end in a Logan DeMond 25 yard field goal. The Threshers would finally get in the endzone after a lightning lengthened second quarter when Landon Barnes would emerge from the middle of the field on his way to a 15 yard touchdown run. 

Due to the first lightning delay being so close to halftime, the two teams had agreed to use that as the intermission and jump straight into the third quarter following the conclusion of the second quarter. However, mother nature had other plans as there would once again be lightning in the area forcing a second lightning delay after the second quarter finished. 

When the third quarter finally started up, it was after 11:00 pm CST. With it raining, neither team would do much in the third quarter. About 30 minutes after starting back up, the game would enter its third lightning delay with 12:44 left in the fourth quarter. 

The teams would get back on the field an hour later to attempt to complete the game before the next storm cell rolled through. Two plays after returning from the delay, Camryn Harrison would break off a 62-yard touchdown run to put the Threshers up 17-0.

The ensuing Bulldog possession would end when Brenden Sanders would intercept the McPherson pass in the endzone giving the Threshers the ball back at their own 20 yard line. Both teams would go three-and-out on their next possessions before Bethel would find the endzone a final time. 

On the touchdown drive, Chantz Scurry would break free for a 43 yard gain. Barnes would run for 14 yards on the ensuing play to get inside the 10 yard line. Scurry would move it 6 yards closer before Barnes would punch it in putting the Threshers up 24-0. 

The Bethel defense was making big plays all night long as they held McPherson to -10 yards rushing and just 178 yards through the air. They were led by the reigning KCAC Defensive player of the year, Josh Seabolt with 6 tackles, three of them for a loss, and Phillip Williams who would finish with 5 tackles. 

Barnes would run for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. Scurry would add in 110 yards, while Harrison would account for the other touchdown and 74 yards rushing. 

The Threshers will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6:00 PM for their home opener as they host Friends inside Thresher Stadium.