Football: Third quarter surge lifts Gators over Bison

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Bethany College football team traveled to Allegheny College for a Presidents' Athletic Conference matchup on Fuhrer Field Saturday afternoon. After a strong third quarter, the Gators defeated the Bison, 31-20.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• Both teams struggled to find the end-zone in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Bison finished a drive with a 29-yard field goal by Jack Sella to give the Bison a 3-0 lead. Bethany's Kayrus Sam later found Deon Parker for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:51 to give Bethany a 10-0 lead.
• Allegheny quickly responded to the Bison touchdown. The Gators used four plays to drive 74-yards, cutting the lead to three.
• The Bison led for the first time this season heading into halftime.
• Allegheny used a strong third quarter to gain momentum. The Gators knotted the game at 10-10 with 9:19 to go in the third.
• Bethany responded after Sella hit his second field-goal of the day from 25-yards out.
• The Bison lead was short lived, with Allegheny throwing a 63-yard touchdown pass on their first play of the drive. The Gators would go up 24-13 with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.
• The Gators added to their lead in the beginning of the fourth quarter after a 64-yard fumble touchdown recovery.
• Bethany used a strong drive to score the final points of the game. Kayrus Sam threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Deon Parker.
• Trailing by two scores, the Bison attempted an onside kick but was recovered by the Gators. Allegheny ran the clock down and attempted to throw in the end-zone on fourth down, giving Bethany the ball back. However the Bison would run out of time.

BY THE NUMBERS

• (21) – Bethany had 21 first downs, compared to Allegheny's 19.
• (397) – Bethany had 397 total yards of offense
• (4) – The Gators had four takeaways, picking off the Bison quarterback twice and forcing and recovering two fumbles.

LEADERS

• Deon Parker led the Bison in scoring with two touchdown receptions. He finished the game with five catches for 47 yards.
• De'Vaughn McWhorter led the Bison in receiving with 97 yards on seven catches.
• Charlie Mills led the Bison on the ground with 83 yards on 17 attempts.
• Defensively, Dante Belardo led the Bison with 10 tackles (four solo) while Rondell Lewis had the Bison's lone sack and forced fumble.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Bethany returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium when they host Case Western Reserve University at 2:30 pm.