SWEDES HANG WITH NO. 16 VALOR

LINDSBORG, KAN. – The Bethany College Football Team played host to the No. 16 ranked Evangel University Valor. This was a big week for Bethany College and the Lindsborg Community as this matchup headlined Hyllningsfest weekend as well as Homecoming and the official ribbon-cutting for the newly-named Ted Kessinger Family Stadium.

The Swedes won the coin flip and elected to defer their choice to the second half allowing the defense to take the field first. Evangel was able to record a first down on their first play from scrimmage, but the Swedes would put a cap on the momentum forcing a punt three plays later. Bethany's first drive ended with an impressive punt of 74 yards by Zeke Mumford resulting in a touchback.

After a couple of punts, Evangel would start to gain momentum again, but a holding penalty would kill their drive leading to a failed fourth down attempt on the Bethany 31-yard line. The first quarter would result in neither team putting points on the board.

Evangel would have the ball at the beginning of the second quarter and would come close to scoring, but would fumble the ball on the 1-yard line and roll out the back of the endzone resulting in a touchback and possession for the Swedes. The Valor would capitalize on a short punt with a 2-play, 39-yard drive to break the tie and go up 7-0. Evangel would score on their next drive making it 14-0.

Towards the end of the first half, with 3:47 left on the clock, the Swedes would orchestrate a drive led by quarterback Landry Shields and running back Zamarion Spencer. On the drive, Shields would throw for 23 yards while Spencer ran for 35 yards which put kicker Ryan Morales in position to drill a 23-yards field goal attempt with no time left on the board. The Swedes would go into halftime down 14-3.

The second half wasn't too kind to the Swedes as the first play from scrimmage resulted in an interception that set the Valor up for another short field. It would take one play for Evangel to widen their lead to 18 points. Following a Bethany punt, the Swedes' defense was almost off the field, but a roughing the kicker call was made leading to an automatic first down for the Valor in which Evangel would score two plays later.

Down but not out, Bethany would try to answer back and were successful completing a 15-play, 67-yard drive capped off by Zamarion Spencer catching a pass from Landry Shields in the back of the endzone to cut lead down to 19. On the following 2-point attempt, Shields would find Devon Lovelady to convert and shrink the deficit down to 28-11. The Valor would score once more and would take the contest 34-11.

Landry Shields led the passing attack with 111 yards and a touchdown. Zamarion Spencer led the ground game with 71 yards rushing. Josiah Hardrick averaged 7.7 yards per carry on seven attempts. Demetric Toney led the receiving corps with 4 catches for 47 yards.

Terry McCutcheon, Khyree Marshall, and Anthony Johnson would each tally eight total tackles. Marshall would lead the team with 6 solo tackles. McCutcheon and David Sweetman would tie for the team lead with 1.5 tackles for loss. Frank Bohannon would record the lone forced fumble for the Swedes of the contest.

Ryan Morales nailed his lone kicking attempt of the evening.

As a team, the Swedes outperformed the Valor on fourth-down conversions going 60% (3 for 5) compared to the Valor's 0% (0 for 3).

Up Next…

The Swedes are set to take a trip right down the street to face the McPherson College Bulldogs on Saturday, October 21^st. Kickoff is set for 1pm in McPherson, Kansas. Both teams are coming off losses to open divisional play.

~#RockarStockar~