MCKENZIE, Tenn. - Faulkner (3-3) fell behind early and couldn't get off the mat early enough as it fell 21-10 to Bethel (1-3) on Saturday afternoon in messy conditions after the remnants of Hurricane Isaias had passed through.
The host Wildcats received the opening kickoff and drove 77 yards in seven plays, helped by a Faulkner roughing-the-passer penalty added to a third-down conversion, and Terris Smith converted a fourth-and-two by taking it all 35 yards to the endzone. After Faulkner was held to a punt, the defense ended a Bethel drive as Aiden Spratt forced a fumble that Nigel Dowdell recovered at the Bethel 47. QB Kamden Wellington would exit the game after a rush three plays later, and after backup Jordan Leverette gained nine yards on third-and-10, the Wildcat defense stuffed Robin Harris for no gain at the 24 to end the Eagles' best chance of the first half. It was all defense for the rest of the first half as the teams traded punts and tackles for loss.
Faulkner received the second half kickoff and promptly milked 8:16 off the clock with a 15-play drive. The guests converted two third downs on the drive with a nine-yard Harris run and a 14-yard pass from Leverette to Kentrell Borden. Facing fourth-and-11 at the Bethel 24, Jacob Huff found Tomon Felton for a 16-yard gain inside the 10 on the fake field goal. However, Huff would be called upon once more as Durrell Miller wrapped up Gage Mims two yards short of the endzone on third down, and he hit the 17-yarder to get his team on the board.
The Wildcats would answer, as Jaylen Brown hit Jamarion Dowdell for a 60-yard gain all the way to the Faulkner six, and Brown would carry it in from the one three plays later to make the score 14-3. Faulkner moved to the Bethel 35 on the ensuing drive thanks to first downs via a 15-yard run by Felton and a 10-yard catch by Mims and got to the 20 on a roughing-the-passer penalty. The threat ended one play later, however, as Miller picked off Leverette. Bethel was in the endzone once more seven plays after the pick as backup QB Silas Teat found Dowdell for a 55-yard score.
Faulkner would finally get in the endzone on the next drive as Leverette found Harris for a 20-yard pitch-and-catch after the former found Devin Townsend three times on the drive for a combined 40 yards. The defense got a stop on the next drive, but Bethel's defense promptly forced a three-and-out. Bethel would then take 4:43 off the clock with a 10-play drive, helped by a fake punt that went for 14 yards, which only allowed the ball back to Faulkner with 46 seconds remaining.
The game was the last of four in a row on the road for the Eagles. They return home next Saturday, the 17th, to take on new NAIA member Andrew College for Homecoming as well as Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.
