Game Notes: Bethany at Westminster (Week 4)

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

GAME 4: Bethany College Bison (0-3, 0-1 Presidents' Athletic Conference) at Westminster College Titans (1-1, 0-0 Presidents' Athletic Conference)

• When: Saturday, September 23, 2017
• Where: New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
• Stadium: Harold Burry Stadium (3000)
• Kickoff: 1 p.m.
• Series vs. Westminster: Westminster leads 41-12-2
• Series Streak: Westminster won 2
• Last Meeting vs. Westminster: Westminster 38, Bethany 9 (2016) | Box Score
• Last Bethany Win: 2014; Bethany 21, Westminster 14 - F/OT | Box Score
• Video: http://athletics.westminster.edu/watch
• Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/westminstercollegepa/football/

GAME NOTES (.pdf): 

LAST MEETING: A week after throwing for 417 yards at Thiel, the Bison were held to 94 yards passing in a 38-9 loss last season at Bison Stadium. The Bethany rushing attack accounted for 127 yards against the Titans' stout defense, including 94 yards and a touchdown from sophomore Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson). Only Carnegie Mellon and Thomas More rushed for more yards against Westminster last season.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: Bethany senior quarterback Chase Kinemond (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) enters the game as the only starting signal caller in the PAC without an interception thrown this season. Kinemond ended 2016 with nine total interceptions and was picked-off in eight of the team's 10 games. Last season versus Westminster he finished the game 12-for-31 with 94 yards and zero interceptions.

TOP TACKLER: For the second-straight season, a Bison stands at the top of the PAC tackling leaders. Junior linebacker Will Gatling (Baltimore, Md./Northwestern) leads the league with 36 tackles and is tied with teammate John Lee (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) with a PAC-best 20 solo tackles. Former Bison and 2016 PAC Defensive Player of the Year Donavan Hayden led the league in tackles last season. Coincidently, both Gatling and Hayden attended Northwestern High School in Baltimore, Maryland.

CLOGGING THE HOLE: Bethany junior defensive tackle Daniel Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) currently leads PAC defensive lineman with 22 tackles (12 solo). Gibson was a nuisance for the Tomcats last week. He finished with six tackles, a pass break-up at the line of scrimmage and was credited with a pair of quarterback hurries for forcing incomplete passes.

ODD STATISTIC: Bethany is tied with Washington & Jefferson for the PAC lead with a plus-three turnover margin, despite its 0-3 record this season. The Bison have recovered a league-best five fumbles, including two last week versus Thiel.

TIME, WHY YOU PUNISH ME? Bethany currently ranks last in the conference in time of possession at 22 minutes, 55 seconds per game. The Bison defense has faced a league-high 172 rushing attempts, which included Geneva's triple-option offense that attempted three passes in week two.

TOUGH MATCHUP: Westminster features arguably the league's finest defensive back in Todd Jeter. Last season, Jeter held former Bison all-conference wide receiver Tyler Ambush to zero catches and 12 receiving yards (advanced ball on a lateral). Ambush was a week removed from establishing the school's single-game reception record with 18 catches at Thiel.

NEXT WEEK: Bethany will return home to Bison Stadium for its annual Homecoming Game when it hosts Carnegie Mellon for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The Tartans claimed a 49-26 win last season at Gesling Stadium, which included 55 combined points scored in the first half. Carnegie Mellon All-American running back Sam Benger rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with four touchdowns in the Bison loss. Benger led all of Division III in rushing yards last year.