NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - After taking a first quarter lead, the Bethel College Football team held off a late McPherson College surge as they took home a 33-24 victory on Fall Fest.

The Threshers opened the contest with a 72-yard touchdown pass from DJ Ciers to Trevon Madison on the first play from scrimmage. Carson Sauseda's point after attempt was blocked, Sauseda's first unsuccessful point after of his career. 

Bethel put a stop to McPherson's first two drives of the contest with interceptions as Brenden Sanders and Robin Neely each picked off McPherson's Szabo.

After being unable to capitalize on Sanders interception due to a penalty that called back a touchdown followed by a fumble, The Threshers took advantage of Neely's forced turnover. Sauseda punched through a 32-yard field giving Bethel the 9-0 advantage after the first 15 minutes of play. 

Neither team scored again until just before the half when McPherson made a 33-yard field goal with 1:37 left on the clock. Both teams had possessions in the final minute and change of the opening half, but weren't able to put points on the board as they contest entered the intermission 9-3 in favor of Bethel.

A Madison punt return gave Bethel great field position after McPherson's opening drive of the second half failed to amount to much. Taking over at the Bulldog 32-yardline, the Threshers were able to get into Sauseda's range to tack on three more points early as the sophomore kicker connect on a 39-yard field goal.

After a Mac 18-yard touchdown pass cut BC's lead to just two, the Bulldogs defense did their job of forcing a punt. However, the punt was muffed by the McPherson return man and recover by Bethel at the McPherson 21 yardline. 

It took Ciers just two plays to get the Threshers in the endzone as he connected with Madison for 16 yards and capped of the scoring drive with a 5 yard run of his own. The third quarter score gave Bethel the 19-10 advantage.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Thresher defense came up big once again. This time, Jaric Woodley forced a Szabo fumble that Jairo Castillo Jr. would scoop up and take to the house. 

Following a McPherson three and out, Ciers and Madison would connect again to cap off a scoring drive, this time from 19 yards out.

With Bethel leading 33-10, the Bulldogs answered the Threshers right back with a touchdown of their own. McPherson successfully converted a two-point attempt to cut eight points out of Bethel's lead. 

McPherson then recovered an onside kick and drove 47 yards down the field and scoring to make the contest 33-24 with just over 90 seconds left in regulation.

The Threshers recover the Bulldogs ensuing onside kick attempt as they took over with McPherson not having any timeouts left. Bethel was able to run out the play clock taking the 33-24 victory to cap off Fall Fest festivities.

DJ Ciers commanded the Thresher offense all evening long as he completed 12 of his 17 pass attempts for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball 26 times for 152 yards.

Trevon Madison led Bethel's skill players with 6 receptions for 127 yards a two touchdowns. 

Three Threshers recorded double digit tackles led by Kade Miller with 13, including two and a half tackles for a loss. Tate Seabolt recorded 12 total tackles, while Grant Godsey added in 11.

The stout Thresher defense held McPherson to just two total rushing yards in the victory.

Bethel will be back in action as they continue divisional play on Saturday, October 21st as they travel to take on the No. 6 ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders who are coming off of their first loss of the season.


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