NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - After a game-sealing interception from Trey Palmer, the #12 Bethel Threshers outlasted the #6 Southwest Moundbuilders, winning 31-23. DJ Ciers finished with a career-high 259 passing yards on his 21st birthday. 
 
The first quarter started as a defensive slugfest, as both offenses were looking to establish themselves and their identities early on. Trey Palmer blocked a Moundbuilder field goal five and a half minutes into the game. The Bethel offense capitalized off the momentum gained on the blocked kick as Tucker Smith busted through a hole created by the Thresher offensive line to gain a quick 65 yards to giving Bethel the ball in the red zone. DJ Ceirs then found Isaac Harkness in the end zone to finish this drive and put the Threshers up 7-0 with 7:20 left in the opening quarter.  
 
Punters Brayden Francis and Gabriel Medrano exchanged fourth-down kicks until the opening quarter concluded with Medrano kicking the football through the uprights after a Moundbuilder touchdown pass from Thomas Yam to tie the game up at 7-7 going into the second quarter.  
 
The second quarter started with an unsuccessful Thresher drive, which started with a 49-yard Trey Palmer punt return. On the next drive, Moundbuilder quarterback Thomas Yam led his offense into field goal range following a barrage of Ziyon Kenner receptions. Medrano converted the ensuing field goal attempt, giving the Moundbuilders the lead at 10-7, with 7:39 remaining in the opening half.
 
The offense of Bethel responded on the next possession with yet another touchdown from arm of Ciers. The quarterback found Brayden Francis for a deep 57-yard touchdown. The 57-yard catch and run put the Threshers up 14-10 with 6:04 left in the opening half. 
 
The two teams continued exchanging scores, with the next one coming once again from the right foot of Medrano. The Medrano field goal was set up by a three-and-a-half-minute drive that was highlighted by an 18-yard reception by Ziyon Kenner. The field goal cut the lead to 14-13 with 2:21 left in the second quarter. This was the score for the remainder of the half.
 
The third quarter started with a touchdown drive by the Threshers. Chantz Scurry plowed his way into the end zone with 12:48 left in the 3rd. But this wouldn't be Scurry's lone score of the night, as he fell into the end zone once again just seven minutes later. The first Scurry touchdown of the quarter was set up by a pair of long receptions by Tucker Smith. The second came after an 18-yard run by DJ Ceirs. The touchdowns put the Thresher lead at 28-13.
 
The drive that followed Scurry's second touchdown saw Thomas Yam finding his receiver Josh Edson for a 50-yard reception, putting Southwestern in the red zone where they took advantage with a rushing touchdown, coming from running back Jaqulis Coleman. Coleman's touchdown cut the lead to 28-20 with 4:55 left in the third.
 
The renowned Bethel running game began to come to life as the game progressed, a combination of Ceirs, Trevon Madison, and Kayden Christiansen put the team's special teams unit in position to put another kick through the pipes. Bethel's Carson Sauseda converted his lone field goal of the day from 31 yards out. The Threshers entered the fourth quarter leading 31-20.
 
The Thresher defense contained the Moundbuilder offense when their desperation grew as the final quarter waged on. Southwestern scored their lone points of the quarter with only 1:55 left in the game as Medrano converted his third field goal of the day, which put the Moundbuilders down by eight points. Southwestern recovered the ensuing onside kick and tried to make something happen in their final possession of the game. Trey Palmer was able to put the game to rest with a game-winning interception. This is the second year in a row that Palmer ended the annual Southwestern matchup with an interception to ice the game. 
 
Following the win, Bethel moves to a 6-0 record and looks forward to their next matchup against Avila. Avila is 5-1 on the year and will be coming off a big 18-14 win against Kansas Wesleyan. You can purchase tickets today on the Avila Athletics site or watch live on the KCAC Network.