Posted: Oct 13, 2023

Football Cats Host Roosevelt University in Non-Conference Game

MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The No. 12 Bethel Wildcats look to rebound after their first loss of the season playing host to the (RV) Roosevelt University Lakers Saturday at noon in Wildcat Stadium. It will be WRAP Day and Coaches to Cure MD Day.

Bethel will be attempting to win the 200^th game in program history.

The Match-up:

It will be the first meeting between the two programs.

The Wildcats are 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the MSC. Roosevelt is 4-2 and 2-0 in the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association. The league includes the likes of Saint Xavier, St. Francis Ill. And Olivet Nazarene.

Bethel is third in the nation in scoring, averaging 47.5 points per outing. Bethel had won 17 straight regular season games until their loss to Georgetown.

It will be the 495^th game in program history with Bethel's record at 199-287 -8.

Last Meeting Between the Two:

It will be the first meeting ever between the two programs.

Last Game:

Bethel:

Two early mistakes by then No.6 Bethel would prove to be costly for the Wildcats as they fell behind 14-0 to No. 19 Georgetown Saturday afternoon and would eventually suffer their first loss of the season losing 52-24 before a stunned crowd at Wildcat Stadium.

Georgetown held Bethel on the opening drive of the game. After a GC drive stalled at midfield the Tigers punted and the Wildcats took over at their own four -yard line.

On the first play of the Wildcats' drive, Georgetown's Jayson Hayes picked off a Joaquin Collazo III pass and took it eight yards for a Tiger score. Drew Radar's point after gave the Kentucky visitors a 7-0 lead.

After another exchange of punts, Bethel drove the ball down inside the GC ten. On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Andrew Welch missed a 22-yard field goal attempt, keeping Georgetown ahead, 7-0.

A muffed punt return by Bethel was recovered by Georgetown at Bethel's five. GC's Darius Neal who had a game high 180 yards rushing ran in to give the Tigers a 14-0 margin.

Bethel answered with a nice drive which resulted in a Welch 31-yard field goal to make it 14-3.

Georgetown came back with a drive to score to give the Tigers a 21-3 lead. The one -yard plunge by QB Gehrig Slunaker was set up by a Neal 25-yard run. The short drive ensued after a GC 65-yard kick-off return.

Bethel answered immediately with a 47-yard TD pass to get back within 21-10. Collazo found Avont Burrus from 47 yards out to make it 21-10 at the half.

Another long kick-off return opened the third stanza for the Tigers. It resulted in a 43-yard Rader field goal and the Tigers led 24-10.

The Cats pulled to within 24-16 after a Taylor Yancey four -yard scamper. The extra point was no good.

After a poor Bethel punt, the Tigers scored to give GC a 31-16 margin.

Later the Wildcats were forced to punt from their own 12 and a poor punt gave Georgetown the ball at the Bethel 20. The Tigers scored and led 38-16.

Collazo and J D Dixon teamed up for a 17-yard touchdown strike to cut the GC lead to 38-22. Jaylen Taylor caught a two-point conversion pass from Collazo and the Cats trailed 38-24. The score came after a four play 72-yard drive.

The Tigers drove 75 yards and Neal ran in from 25 yards out and GC seized complete control.

Jayson Hayes would pick off another pass and 18 yards later Georgetown would win 52-24.

The ability to run the ball was a key for the Tigers. Entering the game, Bethel was allowing only 75 yards per game in rushing defense, but the GC offensive line was a big factor as Georgetown finished with 247 yards on the ground.

The Wildcats finished with a season low of 103 yards rushing. Bethel had 232 yards in passing yards. Dixon caught seven passes for 107 yards.

Brian Hughes and Brody Franks led Bethel with eight tackles each.

The loss snapped a Bethel 17 game regular season winning streak.

It was the 17^th meeting between the two programs. GC has a 13-4 advantage in the series.

Roosevelt:

Tyler Tenner scored with 1:12 remaining in the game to lift Roosevelt to a 28-24 victory over No. 17 St. Francis on Homecoming Weekend in front of an electric crowd Saturday night at Morris Field.

The contest under the lights was exactly what was to be expected between two stalwarts of the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League. The two teams traded momentum throughout the night with both defenses making critical plays at crucial junctures and both offenses finding the necessary explosive plays to respond to each other.

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 were 11-1 last year. 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 31 -16 overall and 18- 13 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.

Lakers Head Football Coach Jared Williamson was hired in June of 2010 to start the football program from scratch at Robert Morris University Illinois and is the only coach the program has ever known. Competing in their inaugural season in 2011, Williamson's teams have won two league championships and been rated in the NAIA Top 25 Poll in nine out of their 12 seasons. Williamson also serves as the Deputy Director of Athletics for the Laker athletic department.

Over 12 seasons, Williamson's teams have posted 12 wins against NAIA and NCAA top-25 opponents and three victories over top-five programs. On the field, his players have accumulated a number of postseason accolades, including more than 120 All-League selections, seven All-American selections, five NAIA National Player of the Week awards, 38 MSFA Conference Player of the Week awards, and two MSFA Conference Player of the Year selections. Williamson has been named Conference Coach of the Year twice (2012 & 2016).

Robert Morris integrated into Roosevelt University in 2020.

Did You Know?

Coach Michael Jasper will be among those inducted into Bethel's Athletic Hall of Fame next week. The Wildcats will meet Cumberland University on October 21. The ceremony will take place Friday. 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

For ticket information, call Kristie Stephenson at 731-352- 6428.

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
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 this year.

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 are available with audio coverage again this year on WEIO, 100.9 and www.thefarmradio.com

Other games and sports are carried on the Wildcat streaming service at: https://bethelathletics.com/watch

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