Bethany Runs Past Grove City, 27-7

BETHANY, W. VA. (BethanyBison.com) -  The Bethany College Football team opened up Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play with a 27-7 win over Grove City College, Saturday, September 8. The win improves Bethany College to 1-1 overall, 1-0 in the PAC, while, the Wolverines fall to 0-1 in conference play, and 1-1 for the campaign.

On the offensive end, junior Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) rushed 23 times for a total of 127 yards and one touchdown. Junior quarterback Carlin Bason (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) finished the afternoon with a touchdown and went 5-of-9 for 101 yards, with four Bison on the receiving end.

Defensively, the Green and White shined as it talled three sacks for a total loss of 10 yards and caused one of Grove City's four fumbles. Senior Joseph Fiasco (Wilmerding, Pa./Penn-Trafford) was key for defensive team as he registered eight tackles, including five solo, to go along with a sack. Bethany had seven players tally at least four tackles apiece.

The Bison capitalized on Grove City's miscues all day as 20 of Bethany's points came from Wolverine turnovers.

Bethany started the day off strong as it got itself onto the board on the second play thanks to a 79-yard pass from Bason to junior Darius Taylor (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County).

The Wolverines answered right back with a five-play, 69-yard drive on their next possession to knot the score up, 7-7.

Bethany got the ball back and but stalled at the Bethany 26-yard line. Grove City did not get a chance to get things moving, however, as senior Will Gatling (Baltimore, Md./Northwestern) picked the Wolverine's pass and had a 45-yard return to put the Bison back up, 14-7.

The game slowed down for the remainder of the half with both teams as neither side could get around the opposing defense, keeping the score locked at 14-7 heading into halftime.

Despite a Bethany fumble in the third quarter, the Grove City offense struggled to find a hole in the Bison defense as it continued to trail the Green in White in total offense, 169 to Bethany's 293.

The Bison had two quick scoring plays in the fourth quarter to end the day at 27-7. After junior Phil Taylor (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) pulled down his first career interception, Bethany would go on to score six plays later with a Wright 10-yard rush. In the following Wolverine drive, the Bison capitalized on a Grove City fumble to push its lead to 20. After the GCC were pushed back 16 yards, junior Kiandre Murphy (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin) recovered a Wolverine fumble in the end zone for a Bethany touchdown. The Green and White attempted for the two-point conversion, but fell just short, handing the Bison it's first win of the season.

Bethany will welcome Waynesburg University Bison Stadium, Saturday, September 15. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.