Warriors run out of time against Swedes

Bethany College defeated Sterling 34-26 on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Lindsborg, Kan. spurred by a strong rushing attack with three touchdowns on the ground. Sterling's passing game put up a fight, totaling 348 yards and two touchdowns, but ultimately fell short. A blocked punt return for a score in the third quarter helped Bethany extend their lead, securing the victory.

Sterling opened the first quarter with a strong kickoff return by Trey Dixon but faced early setbacks as Jayden Briscoe's passes were thwarted, and a blocked punt by King Williams put them in a challenging position. Despite Bethany scoring first, Sterling responded with a methodical drive that featured a crucial 43-yard pass from Briscoe to Lamarkus Dotson, culminating in a touchdown pass to Ryan Stucky at 08:53, with James Henisey's extra point. The Swedes regained the lead before the quarter's end, but Sterling showed resilience, closing the period with a promising 43-yard completion from Briscoe to Noah Khokhar.

The second quarter commenced with Sterling's Jayden Briscoe throwing an interception to Bethany's David Martinez, who returned it 13 yards to the Bethany 20-yard line. Despite this early setback, Sterling's defense held firm, with Charles Jones and Derek Bean contributing key tackles to stall Bethany's advance. Sterling's offense later mounted a promising drive, highlighted by Briscoe's 14-yard pass to Armando Juarez and an 11-yard completion to Trey Dixon, reaching as far as the Bethany 4-yard line before a blocked field goal attempt by Henisey concluded the drive.

The third quarter began with Bethany quickly capitalizing on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Jessie Caver II to Ryker Grossner at 14:42, extending their lead. Sterling responded decisively as Jayden Briscoe orchestrated a critical drive, culminating in a 25-yard rushing touchdown at 10:24, with James Henisey adding the extra point to close the gap. Despite Sterling's efforts, Bethany regained control with another touchdown pass from Caver to Grossner at 03:17, closing the quarter with a 28-14 advantage.

The final quarter began with Briscoe orchestrating a determined offensive push, highlighted by a crucial 19-yard pass to Noah Khokhar, setting up Sterling's first touchdown of the period at 9:39. Following a blocked punt by DJ Fowler, Sterling capitalized quickly with Briscoe connecting with Khokhar again for a 22-yard touchdown at 2:41, closing the gap to 34-26. Despite a series of timeouts and strategic plays, Sterling's late efforts were not enough to overturn the deficit, concluding a hard-fought quarter.

Briscoe completed 26 of 45 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns, though he was intercepted twice. Khokhar recorded six receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown, contributing significantly to the offense. Kevin Jones added seven catches for 83 yards, providing consistent support in the passing game. Derek Bean led the defense with 11 total tackles, showcasing his presence on the field.

Sterling College (0-4) will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 27 against Avila University in Smisor Stadium at 6 p.m.

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