Game Notes: Bethany at Ursinus (Week 1)

WEEK 1: Bethany College Bison (0-0, 0-0 Presidents' Athletic Conference) vs. Ursinus College Bears (0-0, 0-0 Centennial Conference)

• When: Saturday, September 2, 2017
• Where: Collegeville, Pennsylvania
• Stadium: Patterson Field (2500)
• Kickoff: 12 p.m.
• Series vs. Ursinus: Bethany leads 1-0
• Series Streak: Bethany won 1
• Last Meeting vs. Ursinus: Bethany 23, Ursinus 13 (2016)
• Last Bethany Win: 2016; Bethany 23, Ursinus 13
• Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ursinus/portal.htm?eventId=385276&streamType=video
• Live Stats: bethanybison.com/sports/fball/2017-18/boxscores/20170902_mnec.xml

GAME NOTES (.pdf):

LAST MEETING: A 16-point second quarter was enough to propel the Bison to a 23-13 win over Ursinus at Bison Stadium last year. Bethany forced four second half turnovers and, with the exception of an 85-yard touchdown pass, limited the Bears offense in the second half to open the season with the victory.

THE WRIGHT TIME: Sophomore running back Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) is the likely candidate to get the bulk of the carries with the graduation of Jalen Holmes, who concluded his career fourth all-time in school history with 2,701 career rushing yards. Wright ran for 417 yards and two touchdowns last season, but had his most productive game starting for an injured Holmes. Wright had a season-high 20 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown against Westminster, who led the PAC in total defense last year.

IN THE TRENCHES: The Bison return a pair of all-conference performers on the defensive line, including two-time All-PAC Second Team selection Khallid Pierce (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline). Pierce enters the year with 19.5 career sacks, the fifth-highest total in school history, and is coming off of a season in which he posted 6.5 sacks in nine games.

NEW LOOK STAFF: The Bison coaching staff experienced significant turnover in the offseason and will feature four coaches making their Bethany debut. David Arnold takes over as defensive coordinator after coming over from DII Kentucky Wesleyan. He replaces Joe Battaglia, who accepted a coaching position at the United States Naval Academy. Tyler Williams takes over the defensive line coaching duties, Jeremy Macauley will lead the offensive line, while Nate Smith will coach the running backs. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Smith, who is a Philadelphia native and a 2017 graduate of Temple.

FAMILIAR FACE: For the first-time since 2013, Bethany will feature a returning starter at quarterback in senior Chase Kinemond (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside). Kinemond started all 10 games last season and threw for nearly 2,000 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 516 yards and five touchdowns and enters the year as the team's leading returning rusher.

WHO WILL EMERGE? The Bison return only three of their top-10 reception leaders from last season, including senior tight end Dustin Hess (Upper St. Clair, Pa./Upper St. Clair), and will look for someone to emerge from a deep field of wide receivers. Hess is the team's top-target returning for Kinemond, but the other two returners, Wright and senior Shaq Ellis (Greenville, S.C./Southside), combined for 18 receptions in 2016.

TURNOVER MARGIN: Despite their record last season, the Bison led the PAC and ranked 12th in Division III with a plus-14 turnover margin. Bethany forced a season-high seven turnovers in last year's 23-13 win over Ursinus.

NEXT WEEK: The Bison will host Geneva in their home-opener under the lights at Bison Stadium. With the unbalanced schedule in the PAC, the game will not count towards the final league standings and will be recorded as a "non-conference" contest, similar to their 2016 meeting. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.