Game Notes: Geneva at Bethany (Week 2)

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

WEEK 2: Geneva College Golden Tornadoes (0-1, 0-0 Presidents' Athletic Conference) at Bethany College Bison (0-1, 0-0 Presidents' Athletic Conference)

• When: Saturday, September 9, 2017
• Where: Bethany, West Virginia
• Stadium: Bison Stadium (850)
• Kickoff: 7 p.m.
• Series vs. Geneva: Geneva leads 33-12-1
• Series Streak: Geneva won 1
• Last Meeting vs. Geneva: Geneva 21, Bethany 0 (2016) | Box Score
• Last Bethany Win: 2015; Bethany 41, Geneva 15 | Box Score
• Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bethanywv/ (Courtesy of BBN)
• Live Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bethanywv/

GAME NOTES (.pdf):

LAST MEETING: The Bison defense held Geneva scoreless for three quarters, but the Golden Tornadoes scored a trio of touchdowns in the fourth to earn a 21-0 win on a rainy night in Beaver Falls. Geneva's Nick Monteleone broke the tie with a 12-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, as the teams combined for only 466 yards of offense in the poor conditions.

SO MANY OPTIONS: Geneva features a unique look offensively, as they operate the triple-option offense. The Golden Tornadoes only threw for 408 total yards last season and attempted only 81 passes in 2016. Geneva's season-high passing last year was 94 yards on 7-of-15 attempts at Saint Vincent in week three.

Déjà VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Sophomore linebacker Collin Johnston (West Newton, Pa./Belle Vernon) had the play of the game for the Bison at Ursinus when he intercepted a pass and took it 55 yards for a touchdown. A Bethany linebacker also scored points versus Ursinus last season, when Donavan Hayden scooped up a fumble and took it 40 yards for a touchdown. Johnston went on to finish the game with nine tackles, including a half-tackle for loss.

TURN ON THE LIGHTS: This week's contest in the lone night game on the schedule for the Bison this season. Last year Bethany played in four nights games, including a 21-0 loss at Geneva. Geneva is playing at night for the second-straight week and will play a total of five games under the lights this season.

ALL THE WRIGHT MOVES: Sophomore running back Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) was the team's most potent option last week at Ursinus. The Baltimore native ended the game with 66 yards rushing on 13 carries with a touchdown. He also added a team-high three catches for 23 yards and had 96 yards on special teams to finish with 185 all-purpose yards.

THE NEW MIKE IS A WILL: Bethany had a huge void to replace at middle linebacker with the graduation of last year's PAC Defensive Player of the Year, Donavan Hayden. Junior Will Gatling (Baltimore, Md./Northwestern) got the first crack and led the defense with 15 tackles (seven solo) and was in on many plays over the course of the game at Ursinus. Gatling, who attanded the same high school as Hayden, is transitioning to the defense after serving as a running back last season.

NON-CONFERENCE PAC GAME: For the second-consecutive season, the Bison and Golden Tornadoes will meet in a "non-conference" intra-conference game. Due to the unbalanced schedule with 11 league members, each PAC team plays eight "conference" games. Bethany's conference slate has not included Waynesburg and Geneva the past two seasons, but this will change moving forward with the upcoming departure of Thomas More from the league.

TURNOVER BATTLE: Bethany finished 2016 with a PAC-best +14 turnover margin, including 16 fumble recoveries. Geneva ended on the opposite end of the spectrum with a PAC-worst negative-10 turnover margin last year, which included 21 lost fumbles.

NEXT WEEK: The Bison will host Thiel College next Saturday at 1 p.m. to open PAC play. Last season's contest in Greenville was one of the most entertaining of the season, with both teams combining for over 1,000 yards in total offense in the Tomcats' 57-47 win. Senior quarterback Chase Kinemond (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) established the single-game Bethany record for completions (39) and broke the single-game total offense record after putting up 511 yards on the ground and in the air.