BETHANY — Bethany wiped away the memory of last week’s blowout loss to Shiloh Christian (Ark.) and opened 4A-2 district play with a 41-14 homecoming win over Chickasha Friday (Sept. 26).

 ”Definitely good to come out and to play well and have some things go our way for those guys and their mentality kind of going ahead” Bethany coach Jon Arthur said via phone.

The Bronchos (2-2, 1-0) started fast, scoring twice in the first quarter.

Sophomore Breck Brady got Bethany on the board first with a 32-yard touchdown catch. Brady stiff-armed a Chickasha defender and then headed down the Bethany sideline for the score.

The play was set up by a 21-yard punt return by senior Jagger Weaver.

On the ensuing possession, the defense made an impact.

Brady tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage from his defensive end spot. The ball floated into Weaver’s hands and gave the Bronchos the ball at the 19-yard line.

On the next play, McLaren found junior Eli Mars wide open for a score and Bethany led 14-0.

Chickasha (0-4, 0-1) cut the Bethany to lead seven points late in the second quarter. Junior Javier Nieto scored on a quarterback sneak across the goal line to make it 14-7.

The Bronchos extended the lead late in the second quarter. McLaren connected with Weaver, who made his man miss and weaved through defenders for a score to make it 21-7.

“ Weaver has been a guy that’s just been really good for us in all phases this year,” Arthur said. “He kind of did it all.”

The Bronchos had two big defensive stops inside Bethany territory in the third quarter.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Bronchos got back on the scoreboard. The score was set up by a 40-yard catch by Weaver, who reached up and snagged the football from behind the defender.

That led to a 7-yard touchdown run from Keefer with 7:45 left in the game. The score was 27-7 after a missed extra point.

Keefer scored again with 5:08 left on a 12-yard run.

On the ensuing possession, senior Baren Tehee stepped in front of a Nieto pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. That made it 41-7.

The Fighting Chicks scored late in the game for the 41-14 score.

McLaren threw for 196 yards and three scores. He was 14-of-19 with an interception. Weaver caught six of those passes for 109 yards and a score.

Keefer added 79 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.

UP NEXT

The Bronchos host Blanchard (2-2, 1-0) next Friday (Oct. 3) at 7 p.m.

The Lions beat Harrah, 35-13, Friday.

Arthur said Blanchard lost a lot of impact players from last season due to graduation.

“They’re  usually really good up front and well-coached on the defensive side for sure,” Arthur said.

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

	1	2	3	4	F
Chickasha (0-4, 0-1)	0	7	0	7	14
Bethany (2-2, 1-0)	14	7	0	20	41