Williams, Phillips Stellar in Loss

Junior Amarion Williams was all over the field Saturday, but unfortunately, the Bethany College football team fell short with a 20-14 loss to Allegheny in the season opener on Don Ault Field at Bison Saturday.  

Williams was purely unblockable with a career-high 15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and four quarterback hurries. He was pivotal as the Bison held Allegheny to just 30 yards rushing on 42 attempts. Junior Sonny Fox added a career-high 11 stops.  

Allegheny scored 20 unanswered points with touchdowns in the second, third, and fourth quarters to take the lead. However, Bethany had a pair of great opportunities in the middle of the Gators' run.  

Late in the second quarter, the Bison ran five plays inside the 10-yard line but was stopped on two consecutive opportunities from the one. An interception in the endzone halted a fourth-quarter scoring attempt.  

Bethany took advantage of a short AC put on his second drive as freshman quarterback Brett Phillips capped a four-play, 35-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring strike to sophomore Gerrell Leeper. Phillips added his second touchdown pass, a 20-yard pass to freshman Ray Adames with 39 seconds remaining to keep hope alive.  

Unfortunately, the Gators recovered the onside kick to seal the win.  

Phillips finished with 147 yards on 18-of-30 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. He added 87 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Adames led the team with 63 yards on six receptions, while freshman Aaran Randolph hauled in a team-high seven catches for 57 yards. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES 

• Bethany was 2-of-11 (18 percent) on third down and 0-2 on fourth down. Meanwhile, the Gators were 10-of-18 (56 percent) on third down.  

• Randolph had 77 yards on two kickoff returns, 57 yards receiving, and 14 yards rushing.  

• The Bison finished with four sacks as a team, and only surrendered one.  

• Allegheny held a 17-minute advantage in time of possession.  

• Bethany finished with 282 yards of total offense.  

Bethany (0-1) travels to Case Western Reserve 7 p.m. for a Presidents' Athletic Conference road game.