Bethel lost nothing last Friday night at Crooked Oak. After winning the toss, the Wildcat captains elected to take the ball. After six possessions for each team, halftime mercifully was reached for the host Ruf-Nex, who trailed 44-7. After an agreed-upon running clock for the second half, Bethel (5-1, 2-1 district 2A-3) boarded the buses victoriously with a 44-13 district win over Crooked Oak (0-6, 0-3).
Freshman quarterback Bryce Tapley found senior go-to receiver John Gordon open for a 37-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the contest. Kicker Gabe Palomares was denied the chance to kick any extra points in the first quarter due to a large brush pile behind the uprights. Bethel coach Joey Ginn explained before the game, “When we are on drives towards the east end zone, we’re going to have to go for two. Otherwise, we will lose our ball in the brush.” Corey Metscher ran the ball in for the two-point conversion.
After the Bethel defense forced a three-and-out and punt, Tapley needed only one play and his favorite receiver, Gordon, to put the ‘Cats on the board again. Gordon ran the 65-yard aerial into the end zone untouched. The extra point pass failed, and Bethel led 14-0 three and half minutes into the game. Tapley finished the game with seven completions on only nine attempts but for 226 yards and five touchdowns. Ginn said, “The efficiency he’s had in the passing game is what allows us to do what we do on offense.” Ginn is referring to the success they have in the running game. Metcher finished with another 100-yard game, gaining 101 on only nine carries.
Gordon had only two catches, but they went for 102 yards and two touchdowns. The senior needs only 25 more yards to reach 1,000.
Sophomore Reagan Curry intercepted Crooked Oak three plays later. Two plays after that, Curry put the Wildcats on the board again with a 25-yard touchdown catch from Tapley. Metscher ran in the conversion again for a 22-0 lead.
Again, after another Bethel-forced three-and-out and punt, Tapley hit Tyler McKinney on a bubble screen. McKinney did the rest, out-running the Ruf-Nex defenders 62 yards to paydirt. Gage Porter caught the extra point pass from Tapley, giving the Wildcats a 30-0 lead after the first quarter.
The Bethel defense, led by Gavin O’Rorke and Austin Melson with 11 and seven tackles respectively, forced yet another punt to close the first quarter. Metscher scored on a four-yard two minutes later. Facing the west end zone this time, Palomares entered the game and added the extra point for a 37-0 lead.
The Ruf-Nex answered with a long kick return aided by a late hit penalty. They set up their first scoring drive with a first and goal at the Bethel eight-yard line. Their extra point kick was successful, and the ball was recovered earlier this week somewhere in the timber.
Tapley closed out the Bethel scoring with his fifth touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive, hitting Porter for a 17-yard scoring pass. Palomares added the kick and the final point.
With a running clock the entire second half, and with the Bethel starters on the sideline, Ginn was pleased with his reserves. “Our older guys took care of business in the short time they were in the game. It was good for the younger guys to go in and have success. You look at Gavin on defense, Roger Brooks on the opening kickoff, Dawson Easterling how he played catching three passes, Hunter Luschen running the ball, and Winsett on offense.” We were proud of them.” Freshman backup quarterback Corban Winsett played the entire second half, completing five of his six passes for 25 yards, but was intercepted once.
Bethel will host Holdenville (0-6, 0-3) tonight. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
