Sarah Hawbaker
Lindsborg News Record

After a one-point win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Sept. 1, the Bethany College football Swedes were shutout by McPherson College Sept. 8 in their home opener.

Bethany was first on the board verses SAGU with a 23-yard Darby House to Brandon Martino pass in the first quarter. Boston Draper followed with the PAT.

While SAGU's James Gish answered back with an 18-yard field goal, the Lions struggled to find the endzone for seven. The team went on to score three more field goals in each quarter to capture a 12-7 lead over Bethany.

Finally in the fourth quarter House hit senior D'Andre Thompson, Baytown, Texas, for a 33-yard TD pass to pull ahead by one. The two-point conversion was no good, but Bethany's 13-12 lead was enough for the win.

As a team, Bethany had 238 total yards to SAGU's 260. The Swedes amassed 163 passing yards.

House, a senior from Skidmore, Texas, was 16 for 31 with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. He threw for 163 total yards.

Senior Brandon Martino, Junction City, Kan. had seven receptions for 85 yards with one TD while junior Zachary Dovenbarger, Kersey, Colo., had four receptions for 24 yards.

On the ground Tevis Linnebur, a sophomore from Cherryvale, Kan., rushed for 59 yards on 21 attempts. Dovenbarger rushed for 13 yards on two attempts.

Trevor Smith, a sophomore from Phillipsburg, Kan., chalked up 53 kick return yards on two attempts.

On defense, senior Jeff Childs, Jr., had nine total tackles while junior Cody Linnebur, Cherryvale, and Steven Williams, a sophomore from Houston, Texas, had seven each. Williams had one sack for a loss of yards.

On Sept. 8 Bethany hosted McPherson college, ending the day with a 0-14 loss to the Bulldogs.

As a team the Swedes had 198 total offensive yards to McPherson's 326.

House was 17 for 32 with 135 total pass yards and three interceptions.

Thompson had six receptions for 28 yards while junior Marcos Franco, Garland, Texas, had five receptions for 52 total yards. Bethany had 135 total receiving yards.

Tevis Linnebur chalked up 73 yards on 16 attempts on the ground.

On defense, Cody Peabody, a sophomore from Wichita, Kan., had nine total tackles, as did sophomore Oscar Segura, Houston, Texas.

The Swedes next play Bethel College at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 in North Newton.