BETHANY – The Bronchos open the new season Thursday (Aug. 29) against 5A’s Noble.
Bethany is coming off a 6-5 record and a first-round 4A playoff exit in 2023. The squad has consistently made the playoffs in recent years but hasn’t made it past the first round since 2019 when the Bronchos lost in the quarterfinals to Wagoner.
“We return a good nucleus of guys from last year where we lost in the final minutes at Clinton,” Bethany coach Jon Arthur told West Metro Sports. “We are really excited about all of the skill players that return and that we have a lot of guys back who played for us on defense.”
Quarterback Jackie Payne returns. Payne threw for 1,574 yards in 2023 with 17 touchdowns. His biggest target, Wyatt Geissler, also returns. Geissler had 48 catches for 777 yards and eight touchdowns.
On the ground, Judson Gilliland led the team in rushing yards with 393. Gilliland rushed for seven scores.
Defensively, Gilliland led the team in tackles with 118. Charlie Tolle led the team with four sacks and Devonta Melton paced the squad with 12 tackles for loss.
In the secondary, Garrett Johnson led the team with five interceptions.
After the Bronchos’ opener Thursday, the team won’t play a home game until October 11 with three away games and a bye week in between. From October 11 on, Bethany will only have one game on the road.
NOTABLE RETURNEES
| Seth Greiner | WR | JR |
| Judson Gilliland | RB / LB | JR |
| Brock Cross | WR / Safety | SR |
| Jackson Dull | DE | SR |
| Jackson Payne | QB / Safety | SR |
| Wyatt Geissler | WR / CB | SR |
| Garrett Johnson | WR / OLB | SR |
| Devonta Melton | FB / LB | SR |
| Evenson Malaska | CB | JR |
| Charlie Tolle | DE | SR |
| Chase Clanton | OL | JR |
| Ben Sailer | OL / DL | SR |
| Gabe Baxter | DL | SO |
| Jonathan Salcedo | OL | SR |
| Michael Salcedo | OL | SR |
BETHANY 2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Aug. 29 (THU) | Noble |
| Sept. 6 | at John Marshall |
| Sept. 13 | at Jones |
| Sept. 20 | BYE |
| Sept. 27 | at Chickasha * |
| Oct. 4 | at Blanchard * |
| Oct. 11 | Tuttle *(Homecoming) |
| Oct. 17 (THU) | Harrah * (Hall of Honor) |
| Oct. 25 | at Ardmore * |
| Nov. 1 | Tecumseh * (Youth Football/Cheer) |
| Nov. 8 | Madill *(Senior Night) |
All games on Friday unless noted/All games at 7 p.m. unless noted.
BRONCHOS AT A GLANCE
Head Coach: Jon Arthur (61-22, 8th Year as Head Coach, 18th Overall)
Associate Head Coach / ST Coordinator: Adam Forester (15th Year)
Co-OC / Passing Game Coordinator: Ryley Claborn (9th Year)
Co-DC / ILB’s: Ryan Morgan (16th Year)
Co-OC / Run Game Coordinator: Jacob Pennington (7th Year)
Co-DC / Defensive Backs: Sean Williams (13th Year)
Defensive Line Coach: Manuel Gonzales (14th Year)
Wide Receivers / Defensive Backs: Dalton Stout (8th Year)
Outside Linebackers Coach: Dale Brown (2nd Year)
Running Backs Coach: Tommy Baird (1st Year)
ALL-TIME RECORD: 407-370-4
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1 (2003, Class 2A)
West Metro Sports 