Preview: Luther Lions vs. Bethel Wildcats
Luther is 3-0 against Bethel since August of 2016, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Luther Lions will be playing at home against the Bethel Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. Given that the pair suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.
Last Friday, Luther suffered a tough 50-28 loss at the hands of Meeker.
Despite the defeat, Luther got a solid performance out of Ruben Vega, who rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries, and also threw for 124 yards and a touchdown. Vega is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in the last four games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Maurtice Wright, who rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on only five carries.
Even if they lost, Luther's defensive line sure didn't make it easy: Meeker's QB was sacked three times before it was all said and done. Leading the way was Brock Smith and his two sacks.
Meanwhile, Bethel's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Friday after their third straight loss. They fell 39-26 to Crossings Christian.
Despite their defeat, Bethel saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Cale Duncan, who threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns on only 16 passes, was perhaps the best of all. Another player making a difference was Reagan A curry, who picked up 131 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Luther's loss dropped their record down to 3-5. As for Bethel, their loss was their third straight at home, which dropped their overall record down to 2-6.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's matchup: Luther has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 194.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Bethel struggles in that department as they've been averaging 153.6 per game. It's looking like Friday's contest might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Luther strolled past Bethel in their previous meeting back in October of 2022 by a score of 29-14. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was Bethel's John Allred, who rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be that much easier for Luther to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.
