Hot Start Pushes Threshers Past Eagles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Bethel offense got going early, and the Avila offense wasn't able to get going until late – and by that time, the Threshers (3-1) had already built a lead that was more than big enough, allowing the visitors to hold off a fourth-quarter push from the Eagles (1-3) and escape The Z with a 42-26 victory on Saturday afternoon.

It was a rematch of the most important game in the 2022 KCAC regular season, where Avila knocked off Bethel at The Z to clinch the conference's regular season championship and vault the Eagles into the NAIA Football Championship Series for the first time. In that game, Eli Williams outdueled DJ Ciers in a marquee quarterback battle, and the Avila defense held Bethel at bay, especially after halftime, to earn a win. This time around, though, Ciers was ultra efficient and the Threshers ground the Eagles' run game to a halt, allowing the visitors to build a big early lead that they clung to late to earn a revenge win.

A key difference in the game was that Bethel took advantage of nearly all of its opportunities to strike, and the Threshers, normally a run-first team, frequently dialed up a big play right after a takeaway or another Avila miscue. Bethel was highly efficient in the first half, scoring touchdowns on five of its first seven possessions, including three on drives of three plays or fewer. Avila's only highlight came on a 27-yard touchdown hookup from Eli Williams to AJ Carreon, and Bethel took a 35-6 lead into the intermission.

That intermission was extended by half an hour due to a lightning delay, but after that, Avila, which has been a great second half team all season, turned up the intensity in all phases to give them a chance to rally. Trevon Miller forced a fumble on Bethel's opening possession of the second half, and Gavin Hembree and Jordan Thomas combined for a TFL on Ciers to stop another drive, helping the Eagles shut out the Threshers in the third quarter.

And on the first play of the four quarter, Eli Williams hustled into the end zone from seven yards out to get the Eagles on the board. Williams then hit Kendal Wooley for a 2-point conversion, getting the Eagles within three scores. Avila swiftly forced a punt and looked to have a chance to pull closer, but linebacker Kade Miller picked a pass off a downed Eagle receiver and scampered 44 yards to the house, reestablishing Bethel's lead, 42-14, with 9:42 left in the game.

Desperately needing a jolt after a fumble killed a promising drive, the defense delivered more than that: Steeven Voltaire knocked the ball away from Malik Brewer, and it popped into the arms of Dennis Johnson, who outraced everyone 26 yards to the end zone for a defensive score, a full-on lightning bolt into the Avila sideline with 5:15 remaining.

The defense then forced Bethel into a three-and-out, and two plays after Jalen Thach flipped the field with a 45-yard catch-and-run, Avila pulled off a perfect trick play, with Williams setting up Thach for a double pass and Thach finding Carreon wide open in the end zone, bringing Avila within 42-26 with two minutes still to play. The Eagles suddenly had life, but once the Threshers recovered the ensuing onside kick that pretty much sealed the deal, and Bethel held on for a two-possession win.

The Eagles outscored the Threshers 20-7 in the fourth quarter to once again give themselves a chance to come from behind and win, but for the third straight week, Avila's early deficit was too much to overcome. Avila has now outscored its opponents 62-27 in the fourth quarter but has been outscored 44-0 in the first quarter this season.

Under duress all game and missing a lot of pieces in the backfield, Williams threw 50 passes for 337 yards, both by far season and career highs. Carreon and Thach both caught seven passes for over 100 yards, and Kareem Chambers wasn't far behind with eight grabs for 75. Johnson was stellar on defense once again, leading all players with 12 tackles, including three for loss, a sack, and the scoop-and-score.

Up next, the Eagles return to the road to take on the McPherson Bulldogs next Saturday, September 23, in McPherson. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network.