NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - The No. 23 Bethel Thresher football team returned to the field for the first time since being snubbed of an NAIA Playoff birth for the second straight year and showed the country they won't be going anywhere anytime soon. The Threshers picked up a 53-3 victory over Sterling to open the 2023 campaign.
The Threshers started off hot putting up 15 points in the first quarter. The scoring got started when Bethel sacked the Warriors quarterback for a safety.
DJ Ciers added two touchdowns in the opening frame with a pair of touchdown runs.
Trevon Madison got the scoring started in the second quarter with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Ciers. After Ciers added another touchdown with his legs, the Bethel defense scored again when
Kade Miller returned an interception 27-yards to the house. Sterling scored the final points of the half when they knocked through a 35-yard field goal to make the score 36-3 at the break.
Ciers added another touchdown with his legs to start the third quarter when he broke numerous tackles on his way to a 19-yard house call.
Jayden Cartwright was on the receiving end of another touchdown courtesy of Ciers to start the fourth quarter.
Carson Sauseda capped off the scoring for the evening with a 27-yard field goal to go along with his perfect 6 of 6 point after tries.
The Threshers totaled 336 yards on the ground led by
DJ Ciers with 186 and 4 touchdowns. Bethel tallied 115 yards through the air led by
Trevon Madison who had 3 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Kade Miller led the Thresher defense with 10 tackles, 2 for losses totaling 14 yards.
Brenden Sanders,
Darrius Pamplin and Miller all had interceptions in the contest with Miller turning his into a 27-yard house call.
Bethel will be back in action on September 2nd as they travel north to Leavenworth, Kan. to take on the Spires of Saint Mary with kickoff set for 6:00 PM.
