Box Score

McKENZIE, Tenn. – A week after posting the first 100-yard rushing performance in Bluefield College football's modern era, Marion Harris backed up his effort with 210 rushing yards, but Bethel picked up the 41-25 win as BC continued its road-heavy 2012 schedule.
 
The Rams drop to 0-5 and Bethel picks up its first win of the season, improving to 1-5.
 
Harris recorded 210 yards on 16 carries, averaging 13.1 yards per carry. His longest of the day was a 35-yard gain, while he also capped a drive at the start of the fourth quarter with a five-yard rush for a touchdown.
 
Ashton Dixon threw for 130 yards for Bluefield, who outgained the hosting Wildcats in total offense on the day, 533-465. The 533 yards for a Bluefield offense is the program's highest total since its return to the gridiron, besting its previous mark (349 yards vs. Pikeville last season) by 184 yards.
 
Adrian Pope also helped the Rams' rushing attack with 75 yards. Dixon scampered for 63 more on the ground, while Dylan Kidd ran for 22 and completed one pass for 22 more yards.
 
Richard Johnson's one catch of 42 yards was the Rams' receiving high for the day, while Matt Hollandsworth was close behind with two catches for 41 yards.
 
After moving into Bethel territory on the game's opening drive, the Rams' threat was stopped as Dixon threw his only interception of the game.
 
Bethel couldn't muster any advantage off the picked pass though, as they had to punt from midfield.
 
The first quarter continued with empty possessions, leading to a 0-0 tie at the end of 15 minutes. The Wildcats attempted a 40-yard field goal on their second possession, but the kick was wide left.
 
Bethel then provided the first two scores in the second quarter. Travis Smith rushed for a 16-yard score, while a 23-yard pass from B.J. Robertson to Jahron Reynolds upped the lead to 13-0. The Wildcats' first PAT was no good.
 
Bluefield then put together a 65-yard drive on nine plays, capped by a three-yard rush from Pope. However, a blocked field goal attempt from Caleb Frye held BC to just the six points.
 
Just as quickly as BC had pulled within a score, Bethel extended its lead thanks to a Quincy Walden return of 66 yards for the score. With the PAT, the Wildcats grabbed a 20-6 lead, which is where the score stood at half.
 
Starting the second half with the ball, Bethel capitalized with its possession and gained a 27-6 lead. The eight-play, 71-yard drive took 3:01 off the clock.
 
Just as Bethel had quickly answered in the first half, BC did so on its following possession. Pope broke free for a 65-yard rush on a hand off on the Rams' first snap of the second half, making the deficit 14 once again, 27-23.
 
The back-and-forth continued with Bethel scoring on its next possession to gain a 21 point advantage, 34-13, with 9:59 remaining in the third quarter.
 
After a punt from each team, Bluefield began a drive it would continue into the fourth quarter. Harris capped the length 93-yard, 11-play drive for the Rams with a five-yard score which brought the tally to 34-19, Bethel, with 14:24 remaining in the game.
 
Bethel looked to march downfield to respond, but a fourth-and-four attempt came up unsuccessful at the BC 18-yard line and the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.
 
Bluefield made another lengthy drive, covering 82 yards in nine plays to enter the end zone once again. The Rams made several big plays on the drive, including a 17-yard rush from Harris, a 22-yard toss from Kidd to Gianesin and a 24-yard pass from Dixon to Hollandsworth. Dixon finished the drive with a QB keeper, rushing one yard for the score and pulling BC within nine, 25-34, with 6:03 remaining in the game.
 
An onside kick attempt from the Rams was unsuccessful, setting Bethel up for a quick three-play drive covering just 44 yards for a score and taking 2:54 off the clock. Devin Raymer lifted the Wildcats to a 41-25 advantage with 3:09 to play.
 
The Rams moved into BU territory on its following possession looking for a quick score, but a holding penalty and a false start penalty pushed the squad back to a fourth-and-25 which was unsuccessful and allowed Bethel to run off the remaining time on the clock.
 
Bluefield is now set to play its only back-to-back games at Mitchell Stadium for this season. Next week, on Oct. 12, the Rams will help celebrate homecoming weekend. Belhaven University and Bluefield will kick off at 1:30 p.m.