BETHANY — During a 90-minute lightning delay before Bethany’s senior night contest against Ardmore, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Who’ll Stop the Rain” played over the loudspeakers, among other rain-themed songs.

Once the delay was over, the question was who’ll stop Ardmore. Early Broncho mistakes and big plays from the visitors led to a 55-36 loss in a 4A-2 contest. The third straight loss was another hit to Bethany’s playoff aspirations.

“In the first half just way too many mistakes,” Bethany coach Jon Arthur said. “Guys not fitting where they need to in the run game and just undisciplined stuff.”

After the heavy rains and lightning subsided, the Bronchos struggled with their footing on the game’s opening drive and had to punt. The snap for the punt went over junior Brody McLaren’s head and jumped on it at the 1-yard line.

On the next play, Ardmore freshman Da’Rai Washington scored the first of three rushing touchdowns for the early 7-0 lead.

The Bronchos (3-5, 2-3) answered on the next drive. Senior Baren Tehee and McLaren sparked the drive. Sophomore Breck Brady capped it off by catching a 6-yard touchdown pass to even the game at 7-7.

The Tigers (5-3, 3-1) kept gashing the Broncho defense for a 7-play, 80-yard drive which ended with a 5-yard touchdown from Ardmore junior Tyson Laster to make it 14-7.

After earning a first down with a McLaren run, the Bethany offense sputtered. McLaren booted a 40-yard punt to pin Ardmore at their own 3-yard line.

On the next play, Washington found a hole up the middle and then wide-open turf for a 97-yard touchdown to extend the Ardmore lead to 21-7.

On the ensuing drive, the McLaren and Tehee took good field position and moved the ball just across midfield. McLaren pinned Ardmore at their own 1-yard line with a punt.

The Tigers marched down the field for a 11-play, 99-yard drive to make it a 3-score game with 3:44 left before halftime.

Bethany fought back after getting good field position on a kickoff out of bounds. McLaren connected with Tehee for a 31-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14.

Another Ardmore big play on the ensuing possession made up for the Broncho score. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Laster found room on the outside and sprinted for a 68-yard touchdown and the lead was 35-14.

Bethany kept punching back.

McLaren found senior Seth Greiner in the middle of the field at the Ardmore 15-yard line. Greiner appeared to be down but landed on an Ardmore defender. He sprung up and sprinted past the confused Tigers for a touchdown. Again, the Bronchos were within two scores, 35-21.

The Tigers almost scored again before halftime. However, sophomore Lisandro Hernandez’s field goal attempt fell way short.

The Bethany defense gave the Bronchos a chance to pull closer at the start of the third quarter by forcing two Ardmore punts. After the first punt, Bethany moved the ball to the Ardmore 18-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. The Bronchos had to punt after the second stop.

Every time the Bronchos cut the deficit to two scores, Ardmore had an answer.

Early in the fourth quarter, sophomore Xzavier McGee had a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 42-28. The Bronchos even got a stop but turned the ball over on downs in their own territory which led to a score.

After that Ardmore score, a fumbled kickoff return added one more Tiger score to pull away for good.

“Defensively in the second half, I thought we kind of came around and did some better things,” Arthur said. “Those guys up front, Breck (Brady) and Griffin Looper gave us some good minutes in there. Chase Clinton made some big plays.”

UP NEXT

The Bronchos (3-5, 2-3) play their final district game next Friday (Oct. 31) at Tecumseh.

The Savages (3-5, 0-4) were routed by Chickasha, 62-25, Thursday.

Despite the loss, Arthur is “probably still in the mix for the third or fourth spot” in the district standings and a possible playoff berth – if Bethany beats Tecumseh.

Bethany’s regular season finale against Madill on Nov. 7 will not count in the district standings. The Wildcats forfeited a district game this season. Because of that, the Wildcats aren’t eligible for the playoffs and any district game against them doesn’t count in the district standings.

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

	1	2	3	4	F
Ardmore (5-3, 3-1)	14	21	7	20	55
Bethany (3-5, 2-3)	7	14	0	15	36