NORTH NEWTON, Kan - The #23 ranked Bethel Threshers were able to take down the McPherson Bulldogs after second-half heroics from Sophomore Quarterback
DJ Ciers. It was largely a defensive ball game with both defenses stifling the opposing offense. It would take Bethel nearly three full quarters to put points on the board, but when it was all set and done Bethel would walk away with a highly contested 14-13 victory.
The first half would be all Bulldogs. The McPherson offense would find success early and often, while their defense made it difficult for the Bethel offense to get much of any momentum. The game would open with McPherson starting Quarterback Tristan Szabo finding Arian Cervoni for a ten-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 7-0. Trey Palmer was able to come down with an interception late in the first quarter, but the Bethel offense would give it right back after DJ Ceirs threw an interception of his own.
McPherson would go up by two scores after Szabo found Brandt Johnson for a 42-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. McPherson's second passing touchdown would wind out the first half scoring for both teams. A.B. Stokes would point out the number of penalties committed by his team when asked about the team's offensive struggles.
It was more of the same for the Bethel offense through the early portions of the second half. While the Bethel defense found ways to make life difficult for the Bulldog offense, the Bethel offense was still having massive amounts of difficulties moving the ball against the Bulldogs.
With one minute and fifty-five seconds remaining in the third quarter, Bethel quarterback DJ Ciers would make magic happen. He would punch the football into the endzone to cut the Bulldog lead to 13-7. Both defenses would continue to get the better of the opposing offense for the remainder of the third quarter and the early portion of the fourth quarter.
The deciding drive would occur with five minutes and eleven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. DJ Ciers floated the football in the air and Caden Hernandez was able to come down with it and fall into the endzone. The ensuing extra point would put Bethel up 14-13. The Threshers would come up with two key defensive stops to close out the night and take the opening KCAC Week one contest.
DJ Ciers would lead the Threshers in passing yards with a total of 82. Ciers would also lead the Threshers in rushing yards with 64 yards gained, Kashius McCray would finish just behind him with 38 yards on the ground.
Josh Seabolt had a tremendous showing, finishing with 11 total tackles. Tate Seabolt and Jairo Castillo Jr. would be the two Threshers to bring down the Quarterback each recording a sack of their own.
Bethel will return to action Saturday, September 10th at 7:00 pm against Friends University who fell short against Kansas Wesleyan 70-0 on Saturday, September 3rd.
