Bethel football picks up top-25 win against Southwestern
The Threshers beat the Moundbuilders for the fourth consecutive year, moving to 2-0 to start divisional play.
WINFIELD — On Saturday the Bethel football team took on 14th-ranked Southwestern and came out on top 20-13. This would be the fourth consecutive regular-season win against the Moundbuilders, with Southwestern ranked in the NAIA top 25 for three of those meetings.
The whole first quarter of the game was scoreless for both teams until the second quarter started and quarterback DJ Ciers found Jacob Reyes for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Carson Sauseda’s PAT attempt was blocked for the second time this season.
Just before halftime, the Moundbuilders scored a touchdown to tie the game after their PAT was also unsuccessful.
In the first Moundbuilders possession of the second half, senior Brenden Sanders picked off the Southwestern quarterback’s pass and returned that interception for a 65-yard pick-six. Sauseda’s kick was good and brought the Threshers ahead 13-6.
“Getting that interception was a big momentum shift for us,” Sanders from Round Rock, Texas said. “Then returning it for the touchdown was a relief because it was my first one of the season.”
Sanders later earned KCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance. Southwestern soon answered Bethel once again and tied up the game at 13 apiece.
The Moundbuilders later had a turnover on downs which is all the Threshers needed to capitalize. Ciers found senior Mario Quintero for the pass and Quintero not only broke away from one tackle, but broke away from four tackles to make his way to the end zone for what was eventually the game-winning 41-yard touchdown reception.
“I’m always excited to see players have success and Mario is a guy who does things right and wants to give everything he has to the program,” head coach A.B. Stokes said. “It was great to see him get back in the game [after a hard hit] and make an incredible play.”
Junior Robin Neely came up big for the second game in a row, making a defining play that would end the game. The defense shut down the Moundbuilders’ final 12-play drive as Neely tipped a pass that was heading straight to the end zone to force a Southwestern turn over on downs with just seconds left in regulation.
“Getting another big play this week was a right place right time kinda thing,” Neely from Houston, Texas said. “I was just glad I was able to contribute to the team win.”
The Bethel defense held Southwestern to 16 points under its average for the season and just 52 rushing yards on the day.
Ciers tallied 151 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He led the Threshers in rushing yards with 100 and has now surpassed the 1,000 rushing-yard mark on the season.
Frank Driscoll, Rodrick Edwards, and Doug Grider led the way for the Bethel defense with 10 tackles each on top of Sanders interception and pick-six.
“All our defensive players have been extremely focused the past two weeks and it shows when they show up in games,” Stokes said.
The Threshers will play their highly anticipated Senior Day game against Friends on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.