Several Bison Break Records in 57-47 Shootout Loss to Thiel

Sept. 17 - GREENVILLE, Pa.  - The Bethany football team was defeated by Thiel in a 57-47 shootout on Saturday. The game saw over 1,000 yards of combined total offense with several Bison breaking single-game College records.

After a Bethany three-and-out to start the game, Thiel got the scoring started on their first drive when their quarterback Ryan Radke found JaQuan Hicks for a 72-yard touchdown. 

Just three drives later, the Bison had the answer with a 12-play, 60-yard drive that was capped off with a Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) four-yard rush. The highlight of the drive was when Bethany quarterback Chase Kinemond (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) found Jordan Hawthorne (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace) for 18 yards and a Bethany first down. Several plays and a penalty later, Bethany found themselves with a third down and four on the Thiel 19 when Kinemond rushed for 11 yards to put the visitors in the red zone to setup Wright's score.

In Bethany's first drive of the second quarter, Kinemond's pass was intercepted and returned 29 yards for a Thiel touchdown and the 14-7 lead. 

After a Bethany drive stalled in their own territory, Thiel drove 75 yards, scoring a touchdown on a 33-yard pass with just six minutes to play in the half. After a missed PAT, the score was 20-7.

On the ensuing Green and White drive, Bethany would answer with a 63-yard drive where Kinemond completed six passes, with four to Tyler Ambush (Germantown, Md./Northwest). Kinemond would finish the drive with an eight-yard rush to put the Bison within six at 20-14.

With just under four minutes to play, Thiel would drive to the Bethany seven, where they would kick a field goal to end the half with the 23-14 lead.

Thiel started the second half with ball and scored on their first drive, moving 73 yards to score on a with a 6-yard touchdown pass to complete the drive. A failed two-point attempt would put the score at 29-14.

The Bison would have a quick answer. On the first play of the following drive, Wright rushed for a 41-yard pickup down to the Tomcat 22. Bethany would drive their way down to the one-yard line where Kinemond would find the end zone on a keeper. The PAT would put put the score at 29-21 with just over eight minutes to play in the third.

On the ensuing Thiel drive, the Bison defense would bend but not break. The hosts would start the drive on their own 10-yard line. Their drive was highlighted by a 31-yard pass to get to midfield. They would get to the Bethany 31 before the Green and White defense would stuff the Tomcats on a fourth and seven attempt, turning momentum back to the Bison. 

From there, the offense would go to work. Kinemond would connect with Tyler Ambush twice to start the drive. Bethany would get to the Thiel 15-yard line when Wright would fumble the ball before it was picked up by Randy Groves of Thiel and returned 84 yards for a touchdown as the third quarter clock expired, making the score 36-21.

On Bethany's next drive they were forced to punt. Aaron Frye (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) had his kick blocked and returned 25 yards for another Tomcat score to give the hosts the 43-21 lead.

The Bison offense needed a quick response and they got one. 

Wright got things started with a 37-yard kick return to midfield to start the drive. Several plays later, Kinemond found Dustin Hess (Upper St. Clair, Pa./Upper St. Clair) for a 42-yard touchdown pass to bring the Bison back within 16 (43-27).

Just two plays into the ensuing Tomcat drive, Daulton Freeman (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) stepped in front of a Radke pass deep in Bethany territory for his fourth interception of the season to give the ball back to the Green and White. 

The Bison would get a couple big plays for the drive. After two completions to Ambush for a first down, Wright ripped off a 20-yard run to bring Bethany into Tomcat territory. The very next play Kinemond and Ambush connected for a 45-yard touchdown, making the score 43-33 with just under ten minutes to play. 

Just three plays later, Radke gave Thiel some insurance room with a 64-yard touchdown run, making the score 50-33.

Both teams' next drives would not produce any scores.

With just over five minutes in the game, Bethany would need just 45 seconds to score through the air. After completions of 10 and 11 yards from Kinemond to Ambush, the QB would connect with Wright on a 52-yard touchdown pass to bring the Bison back within 10 at 50-40.

The Bethany defense would hold out on Thiel's ensuing drive.

Kinemond would lead The Green and White down the field with another one-yard keeper, bringing the Bison within three points at 50-47. 

Bethany attempted an onside kick to try and get the ball back with good field position; however, the Thiel hands team came up with the ball. A few plays later, Radke would again rush for a touchdown, this time from 36 yards out to put the hosts back up 10. 

With just 1:16 left to play, Bethany had to make quick work. On the final drive, Bethany would reach the Thiel 25-yard line. Kinemond would go 7-for-10 through the air before his final pass was intercepted in the end zone as time expired. 

Offensively, Kinemond had a career day, breaking the school single-game record for completions with 39 while throwing for 417 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 21 times for 94 yards and three touchdowns. With his yardage in the game, he also broke the school's single-game record for most offensive yards with 511. 

Wright also had 17 carries for 89 yards and a score. Ambush led all receivers while breaking the Bethany single-game record with 18 receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, senior Donovan Hayden (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern) led the Bison with 17 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Freeman finished second on the team with seven tackles and an interception.

With the loss, Bethany falls to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the PAC on the year. Next week, they return home to host Westminster for a night game with kickoff slated for 6 p.m.​