Schmidt throws for 298 yards as Bethel football rolls over Bethany
The backup quarterback passed for more yards than any Thresher in nearly a decade in the 27-3 win in Lindsborg.
LINDSBORG — On Saturday, the Bethel football team took on Bethany and got back on track after a rain-delay loss last week to Friends and became 6-4 in 2023 and 3-1 in divisional play. The Threshers rolled over the Swedes, 27-3.
The quarterback group for Bethel saw some changes as usual starting quarterback DJ Ciers was out with an injury and sophomore Dodge City Community College transfer Ben Schmidt got the call to start.
To begin the contest, neither team scored in the first quarter and both teams scored just a field goal in the second quarter to go into halftime tied 3-3.
“There wasn’t a lot said at halftime to change the game,” head coach A.B. Stokes said. “The players want to give their best every week. The main message was just ‘do your job’ and play the game the right way and things will go well.”
Carson Sauseda made another field goal to bring the Threshers ahead in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter the Bethel offense, led by Schmidt, was unstoppable.
Schmidt’s first touchdown was to a familiar name in Trevon Madison as the two hooked up on a 32-yard connection. His second was thanks to a Kade Miller interception, followed by a five-yard touchdown pass to a new face to the box score in Kenyon McMillan. Schmidt’s third touchdown of the day would again be to Madison, this time for 28 yards.
“I was very happy with Ben’s performance stepping in this week and having success,” Stokes said. “He works hard in practice everyday and he had the opportunity to perform well, it was a beautiful thing.”
The Swedes had no answer for the Bethel offense and gave the Threshers the chance to sing Father Abraham once again.
Schmidt threw for 298 yards in the contest. This would be the most passing yards by a Thresher quarterback in nearly a decade. On the kicking side, Sauseda was once again perfect on point-after attempts.
Madison once again led the offense with seven catches for 139 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He now has 497 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Interestingly for the Thresher offense, the leading rusher — junior Scott Grider — only had 18 yards.
“I knew going into the game that DJ was going to be questionable so I knew that I needed to step up,” Madison from Detroit, Mi. said. “I needed to do my part to make Ben’s job as easy as possible and he did a great job this week. My hard work from the winter and summer is really paying off and it feels great.”
Tate Seabolt led the way for the Bethel defense with 19 tackles. Miller, Robin Neely, and Brenden Sanders all found themselves with an interception by the end of the game.
The Threshers will take the trip to Springfield, Mo. for their last game of the season against 10th-ranked Evangel on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.