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PRAGUE — Three second-half interceptions helped Bethel score 28 unanswered points and come from behind to beat Prague, 35-14, in a District 3A-4 clash Thursday night that was truly a “tale of two halves.”
Bethel defensive back and receiver Jaycee Dismuke was the biggest momentum changer for the Wildcats. He snagged two of the interceptions and returned one for 64 yards. Dismuke also had a 21-yard punt return that set up the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and caught three passes for 68 yards.
Momentum was firmly on Bethel’s sideline in the second half after favoring the Red Devils in the first two quarters. Prague led 14-7 at halftime by ending the second quarter with a big defensive stop. Bethel was threatening at the Prague 13-yard line when time ran out during an incomplete pass.
After a “three-and-out” on their opening possession of the third quarter, the Wildcats started their comeback by stopping Prague with their first interception. The Red Devils had marched 58 yards to the Bethel 27 when Clint Duncan picked off a Tyler Duncan pass at the 5 and returned it 15 yards to the Bethel 20.
It took 11 plays for the Wildcats to tie the score at 14, finishing the drive with a Duncan 27-yard touchdown run.
Prague’s next possession went nowhere, ending in the punt that Dismuke returned to the Red Devil 27. Three straight rushes by Justin Vermillion resulted in two first downs. Duncan, the Bethel quarterback, called his own number again and ran for a 3-yard TD that gave Bethel the lead at 21-14.
Two plays later, Bethel had the ball back. Dismuke’s first interception was a diving theft at the Prague 46.
Duncan scored his third TD of the night with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter. The 2-yard plunge capped a 7-play drive.
Dismuke wasn’t finished spoiling Prague drives. On their next possession, the Red Devils went 57 yards before Dismuke snared his second interception on a fourth-down pass at the goal line. Dismuke scampered around and through Prague defenders before being stopped at the Prague 36.
On the next play, Vermillion stormed to the end zone with a 36-yard TD run.
“We came out and played really well in the second half,” Bethel head coach Eddie Paul said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and the kids responded really well.”
Prague had been dominant early in the game. The Red Devils had nine first downs before Bethel’s offense moved the chains. The Wildcats didn’t have a single first down in the first quarter. Prague finished with 22 first downs, compared to 14 for the visitors.
Daelen McClendon gave the Red Devils their first TD with 1:04 remaining in the opening quarter on a 2-yard blast that finished an 11-play drive.
Bethel surged ahead on the game’s next possession, going 65 yards. The big play was a 52-yard pass from Duncan to Dismuke. Vermillion finished the drive with a 1-yard plunge and Vermillion’s extra point put Bethel up 7-6.
Prague regained control 1:24 before halftime when QB Tyler Duncan had a 21-yard TD run. Blake Hill’s 2-point conversion run was successful and Prague was up 14-7.
Statistically, Prague came out ahead. The Red Devils out-rushed their guests 305-249, but Bethel ran for 166 in the second half. In total offense, Prague had a 389-341 advantage.
The win was the second in a row for Bethel, which upended Star Spencer last week. The Wildcats are now 2-2 in district and 3-5 overall.
“We’re right back in the (playoff) mix now,” Paul said. “I don’t know exactly where, but I know we have an opportunity.”
Prague is also now 2-2 in district, but 2-6 overall. The Red Devils were coming off a win over Perkins-Tryon.
Bethel returns to Lincoln County next Friday to take on Chandler, while Prague travels to Little Axe.
PRAGUE — Three second-half interceptions helped Bethel score 28 unanswered points and come from behind to beat Prague, 35-14, in a District 3A-4 clash Thursday night that was truly a “tale of two halves.”
Bethel defensive back and receiver Jaycee Dismuke was the biggest momentum changer for the Wildcats. He snagged two of the interceptions and returned one for 64 yards. Dismuke also had a 21-yard punt return that set up the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and caught three passes for 68 yards.
Momentum was firmly on Bethel’s sideline in the second half after favoring the Red Devils in the first two quarters. Prague led 14-7 at halftime by ending the second quarter with a big defensive stop. Bethel was threatening at the Prague 13-yard line when time ran out during an incomplete pass.
After a “three-and-out” on their opening possession of the third quarter, the Wildcats started their comeback by stopping Prague with their first interception. The Red Devils had marched 58 yards to the Bethel 27 when Clint Duncan picked off a Tyler Duncan pass at the 5 and returned it 15 yards to the Bethel 20.
It took 11 plays for the Wildcats to tie the score at 14, finishing the drive with a Duncan 27-yard touchdown run.
Prague’s next possession went nowhere, ending in the punt that Dismuke returned to the Red Devil 27. Three straight rushes by Justin Vermillion resulted in two first downs. Duncan, the Bethel quarterback, called his own number again and ran for a 3-yard TD that gave Bethel the lead at 21-14.
Two plays later, Bethel had the ball back. Dismuke’s first interception was a diving theft at the Prague 46.
Duncan scored his third TD of the night with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter. The 2-yard plunge capped a 7-play drive.
Dismuke wasn’t finished spoiling Prague drives. On their next possession, the Red Devils went 57 yards before Dismuke snared his second interception on a fourth-down pass at the goal line. Dismuke scampered around and through Prague defenders before being stopped at the Prague 36.
On the next play, Vermillion stormed to the end zone with a 36-yard TD run.
“We came out and played really well in the second half,” Bethel head coach Eddie Paul said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and the kids responded really well.”
Prague had been dominant early in the game. The Red Devils had nine first downs before Bethel’s offense moved the chains. The Wildcats didn’t have a single first down in the first quarter. Prague finished with 22 first downs, compared to 14 for the visitors.
Daelen McClendon gave the Red Devils their first TD with 1:04 remaining in the opening quarter on a 2-yard blast that finished an 11-play drive.
Bethel surged ahead on the game’s next possession, going 65 yards. The big play was a 52-yard pass from Duncan to Dismuke. Vermillion finished the drive with a 1-yard plunge and Vermillion’s extra point put Bethel up 7-6.
Prague regained control 1:24 before halftime when QB Tyler Duncan had a 21-yard TD run. Blake Hill’s 2-point conversion run was successful and Prague was up 14-7.
Statistically, Prague came out ahead. The Red Devils out-rushed their guests 305-249, but Bethel ran for 166 in the second half. In total offense, Prague had a 389-341 advantage.
The win was the second in a row for Bethel, which upended Star Spencer last week. The Wildcats are now 2-2 in district and 3-5 overall.
“We’re right back in the (playoff) mix now,” Paul said. “I don’t know exactly where, but I know we have an opportunity.”
Prague is also now 2-2 in district, but 2-6 overall. The Red Devils were coming off a win over Perkins-Tryon.
Bethel returns to Lincoln County next Friday to take on Chandler, while Prague travels to Little Axe.
