Bethel is 0-3 against Luther since August of 2016 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Bethel Wildcats will head out on the road to face off against the Luther Lions at 7:00 p.m. Bethel is hoping to put an end to a three-game streak of away losses.
Last Friday, Bethel came up short against Crossings Christian and fell 39-26.
Despite their loss, 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. The team also got some help courtesy of Reagan A curry, who picked up 131 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Luther suffered a rough 50-28 loss at the hands of Meeker last Friday.
Luther's loss came about despite a quality game from 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. Maurtice Wright was another key contributor, rushing 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.
Bethel has been struggling recently, as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 2-6 record this season. As for Luther, their loss dropped their record down to 3-5.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's game: Bethel has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 153.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Luther struggles in that department as they've been even better at 194.6 per game. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Bethel lost to Luther on the road by a decisive 29-14 margin when the teams last played back in October of 2022. Can Bethel avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
