Box Score BLUEFIELD, Va. – An array of Bluefield College penalties and a pair of Bethel kickoff returns for touchdowns led to a 49-21 win for the visiting Wildcats, Saturday afternoon at Mitchell Stadium.
 
Bluefield slips to 1-5 on the season while Bethel achieved its first victory of the season to also move to 1-5.
 
The Rams' offense was held more than 60 yards below its average on the year and also lost a pair of fumbles, as the Wildcats were able to hold Bluefield's attack in check. BC finished with 372 yards of total offense, with 267 of that coming on the ground. Bethel amassed 392 yards of total offense, 287 of which came with the run.
 
Bluefield committed 12 penalties for more than 130 yards.
 
Despite having to punt on the game's opening series, the following result looked good for the Rams, as Daniel Griffin's punt caromed all the way down to the Wildcats' one-yard line. Bethel used a couple of plays to get space from the endzone, but Will Nicks' first pass attempt of the afternoon was picked off by Gabe Spencer and returned 10 yards for the score. Patrick Hilton, who stepped into the kicking role for a sick James Gunn, added the PAT for the Rams' 7-0 lead.
 
In what turned out to be common for the afternoon, Bethel had an answer for a Rams score. On the ensuing possession, the Wildcats marched 66 yards on 12 plays, eating up 4:48 of time for the score. Bethel converted a 4^th-and-10 attempt late in the drive and cashed in with a 12-yard rushing score from Jaquell Fitts on the next play.
 
Bethel gained the 14-7 edge in the second quarter with a Devan Rymer four-yard scamper. The Wildcats' drive took just five plays and covered 34 yards, as a 13-yard punt return and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Rams set BU up with a short field.
 
The visitors opened the second half's scoring as well thanks to another Rymer score, this one from nine yards out.
 
Bluefield answered to make it a one possession game once again, 21-14, as Rodrell Smith took a reversal 50 yards into the endzone.
 
But, Bethel's special teams began to spark the team's scoring as Quincy Walden returned Hilton's kick 70 yards for a score and a 28-14 lead for the Wildcats.
 
Bethel's third score of the quarter opened the gap to 35-14, as Logan Diebold powered through for a two-yard score on the ground.
 
The Rams' ensuing drive closed the third quarter and went well into the fourth, as a 20-play, 67-yard drive wore off 7:06 of game time.
 
Bluefield used a variety of rush attempts up the middle, led by Sam Bennett and Adrian Pope. A facemask penalty moved the Rams into first-and-goal territory, and BC finally converted on fourth-and-goal, as Ashten Dixon found David Gianesin from five yards out for his first career touchdown reception with the Rams.
 
Once again, though, special teams came up big for Bethel, as Stoney Burns returned his third kickoff for a score in the last two games, this one going for 75 yards and placing BC down 42-21 with less than 10 minutes to play.
 
Bluefield was forced to go for a fourth-down conversion on their next series, and could not convert. Bethel went the other way with a nine-play, 70-yard drive to close out the game's scoring 49-21.
 
In addition to Spencer's pick-six, the Rams also received interceptions from Anthony Rivers and Carlton Toussaint, but could not take advantage of the Wildcats' giveaways.
 
Bennett Paced BC on the ground with 100 yards rushing, followed by 77 from Adrian Pope.
 
Dixon completed 14-of-24 attempts, tossing for 88 yards and a score. Gianesin led the receiving corps with six catches for 44 yards. Quincey Mock, who also compiled 113 kickoff return yards on the day, had 20 yards receiving, as did Rodrell Smith.
 
Cordell Johns led the defense with 14 tackles, including a 10-yard sack. Harry Casseus also had double-digit tackles with 11. Darius Flowers and RJ Buford also tallied sacks for the Rams' defense.
 
Raymer led Bethel with 149 yards rushing, while Fitts added 117 for himself. Will Nicks closed the game completing 8-of-17 passes for 104 yards, while also tossing the three picks.
 
Quincy Walden led the Wildcats' receivers with a pair of catches for 47 yards.
 
Bluefield hits the road the next two weeks before it's bye week. The Rams face Belhaven next, with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, next Saturday.