LINDSBORG, Kan. — Bethel defeated Bethany 27-17 on Saturday. Bethel's late scoring drive featured a 45-yard pass by
Brady Norman and ended with a touchdown at the 1:37 mark of the fourth quarter. Bethel converted each of its three red-zone opportunities into points, including two rushing touchdowns, and finished without an interception or a lost fumble.
Bethany produced the quarter's only points on Luis Gonzalez's 37-yard field goal and led Bethel 3-0 after the first quarter. Bethel's defense forced punts on Bethany's first two drives, but the Swedes put together a 16-play, 63-yard scoring drive while Bethel's two possessions ended in punts after drives of 7 and 17 yards.
The Threshers outscored Bethany 10-7 in the second quarter, with Norman hitting
Jimmy Martin for a 32-yard touchdown after
Mo Farah forced a fumble and
Jersey Chubb recovered it. Bethel also stopped a 10-play Bethany drive on downs in the red zone, and
Raymond Escobedo's 41-yard field goal as time expired sent the game to halftime tied 10-10.
Bethel scored the only points of the third quarter, moving ahead 17-10 on a 14-play, 79-yard drive capped by
Kenyon McMillan's 4-yard touchdown run and
Raymond Escobedo's PAT at 6:54. Bethany was held scoreless in the quarter, with its first possession ending in a punt and its final drive still in Bethel territory when the quarter expired.
In the fourth quarter, Bethel outscored Bethany 10-7 and finished off a 27-17 win. After the Swedes opened the quarter scoring with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Wes Anderson to Josh Wilkins, Bethel answered with a 23-yard
Raymond Escobedo field goal and later an eight-play, 61-yard drive capped by
Xavier Craven's 1-yard touchdown run.
Norman completed 12 of 21 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown without an interception.
Xavier Craven rushed 12 times for 74 yards and a touchdown and added a 17-yard reception.
Josiah Buller caught four passes for 80 yards and returned one punt 11 yards. Escobedo converted both field-goal attempts, including a long of 41 yards, and made all three PATs.
Up next, Bethel travels to Kansas City, Mo., to face Avila on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m.
