LINDSBORG, Kan. (BethanySwedes.com) – The Bethany College Swedes Football team played host to the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes in a long-standing rivalry between the two teams. This was also the home-opener for the Swedes.
Bethany would open the game with the ball, but go three-and-out on their first possession. Kansas Wesleyan would look to come out strong as the Coyotes’ first play from scrimmage would be a 46-yard pass completion to the Bethany 18-yard line. Two plays later, Frank Bohannon would force a fumble right before the goal line and it would be recovered by Zemonda Wilson at the Bethany three-yard line.
The Swedes would orchestrate a 13-play, 97-yard drive that was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Landry Shields to Michael Young.
Unfortunately, the Coyotes would return the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown, but Calvin Geanswould bust through the offensive line on the following PAT (point after attempt) and block the kick. Caleb Epperson would be at the right place at the right time as he would scoop-and-score giving the Swedes two points making the score 9-6 in favor of the Swedes.
Bethany would try to utilize the momentum, but a couple of incompletions led to the Swedes punting the ball, but Zeke Mumford would pin the Coyotes all the way down to the one-yard line. Kansas Wesleyan would take three plays to score as they would rush up the middle for a 90-yard score to take a 12-9 lead, but the following extra point attempt would miss wide right thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Coyotes.
Not to be outdone, Landry Shield would take the snap on the next play from scrimmage and connect with Jacob Madu for a 77-yard score to regain the lead 16-12.
Things would settle down for both teams until the middle of the second quarter where Kansas Wesleyan would punch it in from three yards out to go up 19-16. The last 5 minutes of the half were not friendly to the Swedes as the Coyotes would return two pick-6s just before the half would end. The Swedes were now down 33-16 going into the break.
The second half was all Coyotes as they would run away with this one 54-16.
Landry Shields would go 17-for-31 with 274 yards and two touchdowns. Zamarion Spencer led the ground attack that seemed nearly unstoppable with 70 yards on 22 attempts. Josiah Hardrick would tack on an additional 58 yards on 10 attempts. Michael Young led the receiving corps with seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Jacob Madu would pour in 99 yards on three catches.
As a team, the Swedes would rack up 403 yards of offense and average 5.3 yards per play. Bethany would own the time of possession with almost 36 minutes.
Up Next…
The Swedes will take a trip to Hillsboro, Kan. to face off against the Tabor College Bluejays. Last year, Bethany would end their winless drought against Tabor and will look to make it two in a row on Saturday, September 14 at 6:00 PM.
