NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Bethel lost to Friends 83-24 Saturday in a KCAC Conference matchup. The Threshers produced two passing touchdowns, including a one-play, 13-second scoring drive in the third quarter featuring an 83-yard pass by
Brady Norman. Bethel finished with 266 passing yards, 94 rushing yards and a 35-yard field goal, while Friends totaled 612 yards.
After Friends built a 48-0 lead, the Threshers' scoring came in quick bursts built around explosive gains. Bethel got on the board before halftime with a three-play drive featuring a 63-yard pass by Norman to
Josiah Buller. Then opened the third quarter with a one-play, 13-second possession featuring Norman's 83-yard pass to
Kenyon McMillan. Early in the fourth quarter, Bethel put together another touchdown drive, capped off by a 51-yard touchdown run by
Xavier Craven. The Threshers' defense produced two red-zone stops in the second half, with one Friends possession ending in a fumble and another ending on downs late.
The Threshers finished with 360 yards of offense, including 266 passing yards, while Friends totaled 612 yards with 341 on the ground and 271 through the air. Norman completed 19 of 32 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns, and Craven rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Buller caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, while McMillan added five receptions for 97 yards and a score. Buller recorded a season-high 120 receiving yards and surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards, reaching a total of 1,083.
Bray Alexander led the Threshers defensively with 11 tackles, registering a season-high total.
Up next, the Threshers travel to Salina, Kan., to face Kansas Wesleyan on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.
