BETHANY – From the opening kickoff, Bethany and its senior class set in motion a 51-0 rout of overmatched Madill Friday (Nov. 8) and set its sights on next week’s 4A playoff opener.

Senior Brock Cross took the opening kick 64 yards to the Madill 3-yard line to set up the Bronchos’ first score. That led to another senior scoring in Devonta Melton’s touchdown run on the next play.

Seventeen seconds had elapsed and Bethany led, 6-0.

“The kids came out in some tougher weather conditions, obviously, but came out and played really well early,” Bethany coach Jon Arthur said via phone after his squad played in a chilly November rain.

After the opening score, the Madill offense went nowhere and a partially blocked punt led to good field position for the Bronchos.

Again, the Bronchos wasted no time as junior Judson Gilliland took the pitch from senior Jackie Payne and sprinted 27 yards for the second score.

The Bethany defense kept Madill’s offense in neutral. After another short punt, the Bronchos scored on the first play of the possession again with a pitch to senior Wyatt Geissler, who took it 33 yards to the end zone.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Madill kick returner slipped at the 1-yard line. The Broncho defense got on the scoreboard three plays later when senior Charlie Tolle sacked senior quarterback Uziel Flores in the end zone for a safety.

After the free kick, Gilliland scored his second touchdown. Facing a fourth-and-one from the Madill 15-yard line, Gilliland lined up under center for a tush-push play. He dove forward but then pulled back and headed around the right end, broke three tackles near the goal line for the touchdown. Bethany led, 29-0, with 2:57 left in the opening quarter.

With his performance Friday, Gilliland eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Another short Madill punt led to another Broncho score. Senior Jackson Dull scored on a 7-yard run. Payne and freshman Breck Brady connected for the 2-point conversion to make it 37-0.

The Bethany defense forced another short punt. At that point, Bethany put in reserves. Sophomore Brody McLaren hit Brady for a 30-yard pass to set Bethany up at the Madill 12-yard line.

Sophomore Wyatt Keefer fumbled the ball on a handoff from McLaren to end the drive.

Once again, Madill had to punt. Bethany took over at the Madill 29-yard line.

Junior Marcos Lopez followed with two big runs, including a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 45-0 with 2:51 before halftime.

Bethany scored one more time on a Cooper Johnson touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The senior ran it in from seven yards with 9:12 left in the game.

SALUTING THE SENIORS

Arthur reflected on the senior class after the win.

“They’re a group of guys played a lot of football since they were sophomores,”Arthur said. “They played a big role last year.

“Then to come out this year, they’ve just played well in most areas. I think they’re a group that’s experienced going into the playoffs and they’ve obviously meant a lot to our program.”

Arthur said he’s seen a difference in the senior group this season, especially during the a comeback win against Jones and tough losses to Blanchard and Tuttle.

“I felt our mindset and our attitude as a team was still positive and that’s a credit to those guys,” Arthur said.

4A DISTRICT 2	DISTRICT RECORD	OVERALL RECORD
Tuttle	7-0	10-0
Blanchard	6-1	9-1
Bethany	5-2	8-2
Ardmore	4-3	6-4
Harrah *	3-4	5-5
Chickasha *	2-5	2-8
Tecumseh *	1-6	3-7
Madill *	0-7	1-9

UP NEXT

Bethany (8-2, 5-2) travels to Weatherford (8-2, 6-1) for the first round of the Class 4A playoffs next Friday (Nov. 15). The Eagles finished second in 4A-1 after a 41-14 win at Bridge Creek Friday (Nov. 8).

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

	1	2	3	4	F
Madill (1-9, 0-7)	0	0	0	0	0
Bethany (8-2, 5-2)	29	16	0	6	51