Wildcats whip Eagles

By Brian Johnson
Contributing Writer

BETHEL - Heath Claborn was hoping to get the opportunity for his Bethel Wildcats to work on some different things Friday night.
Mission accomplished.
The run-oriented Wildcats experimented with a passing game as they rolled to a 40-14 District 2A-2 victory over Seeworth Academy.
“We knew going in that they (the Eagles) were a little outmanned and we wanted to work on some different things that we usually don’t work on,” said the first-year head coach. “I thought (quarterback) Clint (Duncan) did a good job of taking what they gave him. Our pass protection was good and his progression was good.”
Bethel, which improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the district, compiled 335 yards of total offense against the Eagles and was able to withstand five turnovers.
Duncan, a 5-foot-9-inch sophomore, was 15-of-25 passing for 136 yards and also ran for a TD from 3 yards out to open the game while the Wildcat running game churned up 199 yards with junior Josh Boatman leading the way with 72 yards on 10 carries and four touchdown runs of 12, 1, 18 and 10 yards.
The Wildcats’ other score came off a 37-yard run by Jaycee Dismuke.
Sophomore wide receiver Dion Robinson caught a game-leading five passes for 57 yards while Casey Coy was on the receiving end of four for 23 yards. Dismuke also caught three for 42 yards in Bethel’s unlikely aerial display.
The Wildcats struck early, going 70 yards in only eight plays and using just 2:40 of the clock as Duncan scored on his 3-yard keeper. Dylan Lamb’s PAT then upped the Bethel advantage to 7-0 with 9:20 to go in the opening quarter.
The Wildcats then went up 14-0 after Boatman scored the first of his four touchdowns on the night with a 12-yard scamper with 6:00 left in the first period.
Bethel padded that advantage early in the second quarter when Boatman raced up the middle for a 1-yard scoring run with 11:10 remaining before the half. A 34-yard pass from Duncan to Robinson down to the 1-yard line set the stage for Boatman’s second score of the night.
Seeworth Academy used some trickery to get on the board just before halftime as Kendrick Vick scored off a 51-yard reverse with 3:03 to go before the break. Vick netted 121 yards on 25 carries for the game.
But the Wildcats weren’t finished in the half as they quickly responded with a 61-yard, six-play drive capped by Dismuke’s 37-yard run with 1:35 left in the half which led to a 27-6 Bethel advantage at the break. Dismuke also caught a 14-yard pass from Duncan on the series.
Boatman’s third TD run of the night was perhaps his most exciting one as he ran through several tackle attempts on his way to the 18-yard scoring run. He later added a 10-yard scoring run to open the fourth quarter.
The Wildcat defense held the Eagles to 181 total yards, despite the fact they were missing three starters due to injuries - defensive end Robert Neville, linebacker Gary Wesley and free safety Kris Moucka.
“We challenged some of our younger guys to step up and they did,” Claborn said. “Hopefully, this can be the launching pad to the heart of our season.”
Bethel continues district play on Thursday as it hosts Little Axe at 7:30 p.m.