Cats Host St. Andrews Saturday in Home Opener -Game Notes
The Matchup
The No. 8 Bethel Wildcats will open the home portion of their season Saturday playing host to St. Andrews University with kick-off at Wildcat Stadium slated for noon. It will mark just the second meeting ever between the two programs.
The Wildcats are 1-0 on the season. The Knights are 0-2.
It will be the 490th game in program history with Bethel's record at 195-286 -8.
The Catwalk and gates open at 10:15 a.m.
Game Coverage:
Live video: https://www.bethelathletics.com/watch
Listen: https://www.thefarmradio.com/farm-sports-and-events
Live stats: https://bethelathletics.com/sports/fball/2023-24/boxscores/20230909_sqec.xml
Tickets: https://bethelathletics.com/tickets
Last Meeting
Bethel beat the Knights 42-22 in Laurinburg, North Carolina in 2021.
Last Game:
Bethel:
The No. 8 Wildcats made a point in week one in Valley, Alabama against the Point Skyhawks. Leading 17-13 at the half the Cats pulled away for a season opening 51-13 win over the Skyhawks.
Entering the season, there were some in the Bethel camp who thought the Cats were worthy of a top five national ranking. After an impressive second half, the Cats looked like a top five squad.
The 34-point second half was reminiscence of the second half the Cats put on Point last year in McKenzie. Bethel scored 28 unanswered to win 28-3 in that game.
The Wildcats used an opening drive of 65 yards to take the early lead. Joaquin Collazo III scored on a one yard run and after the point after by Andrew Welch, Bethel led 7-0.
Six minutes later, Point drove 89 yards to tie the game.
Mitchell Faulkner scored at the 14:37 mark of the second stanza to allow the Wildcats to retake the lead. Faulkner ran in from 20 yards out capping off a five play 67-yard drive. Welch's point after gave Bethel a 14-7 lead.
The Wildcats upped their margin to 17-7 on a 23-yard field goal by Welch with 3:52 left in the half. The kick capped off a 73-yard drive.
After running into the punter and giving Point a first down, the Skyhawks capitalized on the Bethel mistake and scored with 20 seconds left in the half. The point after was no good and Bethel had a 17-13 lead at the break.
The Wildcats scored late in the third (2:07) quarter to move back out to a double-digit lead at 24-13. Collazo dove in from one yard out. The dive completed a 12 play 89-yard drive. The Welch PAT was good, and the Wildcats moved out to a 24-13 lead. That was the only score of the quarter and Bethel entered the final quarter with the 11-point lead.
The Wildcats blew the game open with four more scores. Martize Smith scored on a ten-yard run. Senior Demetrice Gilbert had two, (that's right) two pick six interceptions. The first was a return for 58 yards and the other was a 33-yard interception score.
Gilbert has 11 career interceptions which ranks him tied for fourth most in program history.
Bethel added another late score to win 51-13.
Bethel had a 224-150 margin in passing yards and a 200-107 advantage in rushing yards.
Martize Smith was the leading rusher for Bethel with 74 yards. J D Dixon caught six passes for 55 yards. Jaylen Taylor had four receptions for 56 yards. Collazo was 17-28 for 224 yards in the victory.
Bethel's defense was led by Brian Hughes who had six total tackles. Kedrick Walker followed with five total stops. Brody Franks had four.
It was Bethel's 13th straight regular season win. The victory was the third against Point. Bethel is 3-0 versus Point.
Last Game:
SAU: The Knights lost to Lindsey Wilson 51-14 last week in Columbia. SAU lost their season opener 49-14 to Webber Internationals.
Head Coaches
Michael Jasper is in his fifth year as head coach of the Wildcats. Coach Jasper also serves as Associate Athletic Director of Internal Operations.
Before becoming the head coach, Jasper served as Assistant Head Coach and worked with the defensive line. Prior to that he held the titles of Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator, as well as overseeing the strength and conditioning program.
The Wildcats are coming off an 11-1 season. Jasper picked up his first conference coach of the year honor after guiding Bethel to its sixth overall title. The undefeated regular season was the first in program history. Bethel was ranked No. 4 in the national poll. Coach Jasper was named NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year.
Coach Jasper's career record is 26-15 overall and 17- 12 in conference play. Before joining the Bethel staff, Jasper served as Offensive and Defensive Line Assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. Mike spent three years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
Coach Jasper played for the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2005 and was a starter on their 2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship team. After redshirting at Middle Tennessee State University,
Coach Jasper joined the Bethel University Wildcats and was an offensive and defensive lineman from 2008-2010. He was the first-ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 with his selection by the Buffalo
Bills.
He graduated from Bethel University with a bachelors degree in university studies. Mike and his wife Allison, along with their children Davis Reid, Millie Claire and Samuel David reside in McKenzie.
Their rescue dog is named Caine.
Coach Robert Curtin is the head coach of the Knights. Prior to SAU, Curtin was the interim head coach of the Pinecrest Patriots football team in nearby Southern Pines. Curtin spent eight years on the Patriots coaching staff as an Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers coach before being named the head coach during the 2021 season. Pinecrest finished with an 8-3 overall record and a 4-1 in conference play led by Curtin.
The Long Island, New York native, first coaching job came at New Century Middle School as he served as the school's assistant football and wrestling coach. Curtin also coached the JV boys' basketball and girls' soccer teams. He also has had experience coaching at the AAU basketball level and USAW youth wrestling.
After 24 years of distinguished service, Curtin retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command & 189th BDE. Curtin first arrived in the Tarheel State when he was assigned to Fort Bragg. He was responsible for personnel, training, equipping, and commanding a Special Operations Assault Force throughout full spectrum operations.
Curtin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hofstra in 1994, majoring in History. He received his Master's Degree from Norwich University in 2013 in Military History.
Did You Know?
- Sixteen different states are represented on the Bethel squad.
- Six Wildcats were named to the MSC Preseason Watch list. Joaquin Collazo III, J D Dixon, Cortez Eatmon, K J Hicks, Jaren Rainey and Jaylen Taylor were all honored.
- Bethel's Demetrice Gilbert was named Mid-South Conference Defensive Football Player of the Week in week one of the season. The senior from Atlanta Gilbert had two interceptions and returned both back for touchdowns in the Wildcats' 51-13 victory over Point. He took the first interception back 58 yards and the second one for 33. Gilbert is now tied for fourth in program history with 11 career interceptions.
- Coach Michael Jasper will be among those inducted into Bethel's Athletic Hall of Fame in October. The No. 8 Wildcats will meet Cumberland University on October 21. The ceremony will take place that weekend. Coach Jasper will be inducted as a result of his playing career at the school. He will be joined by:
Dave Jesse-Men's Basketball
Ariel Montague-Women's Track
Tom & Patty Kahlden- Contributors
More information on the event and each inductee and how tickets can be purchased will be released soon. Congratulations to the inductees and the athletic department and University looks forward to an October week and weekend to remember.
- The 2023 Football Media Guide is available now on the Bethel Athletic page. Keep up with the Cats this season with the on-line version at: https://www.calameo.com/bethel-university/read/003316375ff645033edbb
- A huge welcome to our new Mid-South Conference Commissioner Eric Leach who is with us today at Wildcat Stadium!!!!!!
- Fans can purchase a Gold Lot Season parking pass for 90.00. The Gold Lot is located directly behind the stadium entrance. Fans can also park in the Purple Lot for 50.00. The Purple Lot will be located directly north of the stadium. If spaces are still available after season passes are sold, they will be sold on a game-to-game basis at 10.00 each. Both lots will be staffed by Bethel security and lot attendants. There remains free parking on campus in front of Crisp Arena and areas north of the stadium and the reserved parking areas. To secure your parking pass in advance, visit the ticket and parking links on the main athletic page. https://bethelathletics.com/tickets
- Also, visit our website under tickets on how you can purchase a tailgate ticket for selected games and share a pre-game meal with family and friends.
https://bethelathletics.com/tickets
- Bethel University Athletics and Worthy Road Studios, a leader in sports streaming, announced a partnership between the two for coverage of Bethel Athletic events beginning today.
Under the newly announced partnership, Worthy Road Studios will stream all home football games and selected home basketball games.
The agreement will feature upgraded production. Features such as slow-motion instant replays and different camera angles will be included.
Worthy Road Studios also produces live broadcast of the Jackson Rockabilly Baseball team, Union University, Trenton Peabody, Jackson Christian, University School of Jackson and Trinity Christian Academy sporting events. The Ballgame Blitz, the best source for West Tennessee, is all produced by Worthy Road Studios.
Be sure to like and follow Worthy Road Studios, the Ballgame Blitz on Facebook and subscribe to Worthy Road Studios YOU TUBE Channel.
The Ballgame Blitz is also on Twitter, so you can follow the sports broadcasts there as well.
Bethel games will also be available with audio coverage again this year on WEIO, 100.9 and www.thefarmradio.com
Other games and sports will be carried on the Wildcat streaming service at: https://bethelathletics.com/watch
2023 Bethel University Football Staff
Michael Jasper - Head Coach
Chris Springer - Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator
Jay Bright - Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator
Dustin Kincaid – Special Teams Coordinator/LB Coach/ DOFO
Terrell Jackson - Senior Defensive Analyst
Bret Peterson - Halfbacks/ Tight Ends
Troy Brewer - Defensive Line
M D Daniels- Pass Game Coordinator/ WR
Kyle Wallace- Defensive Backs
Jamel Warren- Linebacker Assistant
Bryce Missey-Running Backs
Davius Prather- Offensive Assistant/ WR
Cobey Johnson- Offensive Assistant/ QB
Kiel Parkhurst- Offensive Line Assistant
A.B. Holloway- Defensive Assistant
Caleb Hall- Special Teams Assistant
Carrie Staal- Marketing Content Director
Golden Boosters and sponsors for Bethel Athletics this year are:
West Tennessee Public Utilities
Smith & Smith Optometry
Steven Morton & State Farm Insurance
Trevathan's Electrical Services
Carroll Bank & Trust
Nicky Jo Stafford Real Estate
City Florist
Anchor Transportation
Next Week:
The Cats remain at home to host Bluefield at 1 p.m. It will be WRAP Day at Wildcat Stadium.