Bison Knocked Off by Westminster, 38-9

BETHANY, W.Va. (Sept. 24) – The Bison were dealt a 38-9 loss by Westminster in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play Saturday evening at Bison Stadium.

The loss sends the Bethany College football team to 1-3 overall, 0-2 in the PAC. Meanwhile the Titans improve to 1-0 in league play, 3-0 overall; their best start to a season since 1997.

Freshman tailback Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries to lead the Bison. Junior quarterback Chase Kinemond (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) finished the night 12-of-31 for 94 yards and zero interceptions, while sophomore wide receiver Jordan Hawthorne (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace) hauled in five catches for 47 yards to lead the team.

Defensively, senior linebacker Donavan Hayden (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern) led the team with 15 tackles (seven solo), while senior defensive back Aaron Frye (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) chipped in 11 (eight solo), half a sack and a fumble recovery. Freshman linebacker Stef'an Simmons tallied a pair of solo sacks and sophomore linebacker Andrew Martinez (Miami, Fla./Killian) added a pair of forced fumbles to go with three solo tackles.

Westminster took the opening kickoff and capped off a seven play, 57 yard drive with a six-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone to take the early lead. The Titans were successful on the two-point attempt to take an 8-0 lead before the Bison had the ball.

Wright found a gap for a 17 yard rush on the second play of Bethany's opening possession, but the drive stalled forcing a Frye punt.

The game remained 8-0 heading into the second quarter, until Westminster finished off a quick four play, 47 yard drive with a 12 yard touchdown pass to take a 14-0 lead with 10:03 remaining in the first half.

The Bison went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but a Westminster fumble on first down at their own 22 yard line led to a 35 yard field goal from junior kicker Chris Ray (Henrico, Va./Mills E. Godwin) which trimmed the deficit to 14-3 with 7:14 left in the first half.

Westminster added a field goal of its own before the half expired to take a 17-3 lead into the break.

The Titans forced a three-and-out on the Bison's first drive of the second half, but a fumble on the punt return at the Westminster 32 yard line sparked new life into Bethany. Wright cashed in for the Bison with a 22 yard scamper into the end zone, but the ensuing extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 17-9 with 11:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Westminster did not allow the Bison to get any closer. The Titans added a one-yard touchdown run four minutes later and tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

The Titans finished the game with 372 yards of total offense, with 205 yards on the ground. The Bethany air attack, while piled up 417 the previous week against Thiel, was held to 94 yards passing by Westminster.

The Bison return to the gridiron next Saturday, October 1 when they head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take on Carnegie Mellon in a PAC contest. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.