North Newton, Kan. — Under the bright lights of Fall Fest, Bethel College football delivered a show for the home crowd, defeating Sterling 34–26 for the team's second straight victory and first home win under head coach Josh Lawson.
From the opening kickoff, the Thresher faithful packed Thresher Stadium in full Fall Fest spirit, later rising to their feet during halftime as the program honored Bethel greats Juan Aguirre, Dale Russell, and Virgil Penner.
After a rough start that saw Sterling recover a fumble their own fumble in the end zone 2 plays after a blocked punt for an early 6–0 lead, Bethel's offense found its rhythm behind quarterback Houston Herrin, who finished with 417 total yards and five touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground.
The first spark came midway through the second quarter. Herrin lined up in the shotgun, motioned Trevon Madison across the formation, and tossed a quick touch pass. Madison turned the corner, hit full speed, and raced 92 yards untouched down the sideline for Bethel's first touchdown of the game — a jolt of energy that swung momentum instantly.
Before halftime, Herrin led another quick drive capped by a 30-yard strike to Larry Cherry, giving Bethel a 13–6 lead at the break.
Sterling fought back in the third quarter, scoring twice to briefly take a 20–13 advantage. But Bethel didn't flinch. Herrin dumped off a screen pass to Ben Vincent, who weaved through defenders and sprinted 70 yards to the end zone to tie it at 20–20.
Then came the knockout blow. Early in the fourth quarter, Herrin faked a handoff, kept it himself, and broke free down the right sideline for a 74-yard rushing touchdown. Later, with under two minutes remaining, Herrin capped a 75-yard drive with a two-yard keeper to secure the 34–26 victory.
The Threshers racked up 516 yards of total offense, highlighted by 241 rushing yards and 275 through the air. Noah Miller added 83 yards on the ground, while Madison led the receiving corps with six catches for 145 yards, joined by Vincent (74 yards) and Cherry (37 yards).
Defensively, Bethel's front set the tone, recording five sacks and several drive-ending stops. Amerdid Marial led the way with eight tackles and a forced fumble, while Frank Driscoll added two sacks and multiple quarterback pressures.
The victory showcased the team's explosiveness, toughness, and growth under Lawson — a complete effort on both sides of the ball that embodied the Fall Fest spirit.
With the win, Bethel improves to 2–4 overall. The Threshers will enjoy a bye week before opening division play on October 18 at Tabor College.
