#18 Langston Runs Past Bethany in Swedes Home Opener

LINDSBORG, Kansas  – The 18th ranked team in the NAIA, Langston University, visited Lindsborg to take on the Bethany College Swedes. The Lions showed why they were a top team in the country; having explosive plays all over the field and gaining over 600 yards of total offense on their way to a 33-14 win.

The night could not have started any better for Bethany. The Swedes won the toss and deferred to the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, the Lions had a bad snap and when the running back tried to make it around the outside, Chris Washington drug him down in the end zone and for a safety.

The Lions, however, responded quickly. After kicking off, Langston held the Swedes offense to just four yards on the ground in a three-and-out. Once they received the punt, Langston went 80 yards in four place capped by a 72 yard touchdown pass on fourth and two from their own 28. The extra point was not good and Bethany found themselves in a 6-2 hole. Langston added to their lead on a 32 yard field goal with 3:37 left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Lions drove 85 yards in 10 plays to stretch their lead over Bethany to 16-2. While the Bethany offense continued to struggle offensively in the first half, big plays on the ground and through the air helped Langston score another touchdown with ten seconds in the first half to take a 23-2 half time lead.

The Swedes made adjustments and started moving the ball in the second half. Virgil Bridges found Fred White on a curl route, and White spun off a defender to turn it into a 71 yard pass play. Adam Maisch would end up kicking a 34 yard field goal to cut into the deficit. Langston would add a field goal late in the quarter to take a 26-5 lead.

On the first play in the fourth quarter, Bridges found Nile Daniel in the back right corner on a fade route from 15 yards out for the Swedes first touchdown of the game. The extra point closed the Langston lead to 26-12. After a Lions three-and-out, the snap went over the Langston punter's head and ended up going out of the back of the end zone for another safety.

But, once again Langston found an answer. Bethany was forced to punt after just three plays, and Langston drove 71 yards in nine plays to cut the Swedes momentum.

"I thought our guys fought hard tonight, but I've got to put them in a better position to be successful. This game is about adversity, but we can't put ourselves in a hole like we did in the first half," said head coach Paul Hubbard after the game. We will learn from our mistakes and will be a better team next week."

By the numbers:

• Bethany scored four times and of the four times, it was three different ways; safety, field goal, and a touchdown.
• Langston racked up 606 total offensive yards, while the Swedes had 256. Bethany had 71 yards on the ground and 185 through the air, but the Lions had 314 passing yards and 292 rushing.
• Bethany had 14 first downs in the game and Langston had 32, 14 of them on the ground.
• Virgil Bridges was 12-of-25 for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His longest throw (71 yards) went to Fred White who ended the game with 4 catches for 101 yards. Nile Daniel caught four passes for 51 yards and also had a touchdown grab. Daniel also had a punt return that set Bethany up with great field position. 
• Kayden Clements had a team high 43 yards on the ground. Daniel added 26 for Bethany.
• Kerry Hubbard made a play on a ball that was batted into the air and returned his interception for 12 yards.
• Javan Moore led Bethany with 10 tackles, eight were solo. Chris Washington had nine and two tackles for loss, while Kyle Gfeller added six solo tackles and two assisted.
• Adam Maisch made a field goal from 34 yards out, and had another kick blocked. Brett Crome punted 8 times for an average of 43.8 yards, with a long of 59.  
• Langston's Kievon Jackson led the Lions with 169 yards on the ground and two scores. The quarterback Mark Wright, Jr. was 15-of-33 for 296 yards and a touchdown.
• At halftime Bethany College made a special recognition to the Lindsborg community Emergency Service Personnel for their dedication to the college and community. There were several members of the Police Department, Fire Department, First Responders, EMT, Paramedics and hospital workers present at the game. All received free admission to the game. 

Bethany will open KCAC play on the road in a week when they travel to North Newton, to play Bethel College.

FULL STATS
 
COURTESY BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES SPORTS INFORMATION