CACHE — Bethany’s defense got four timely turnovers Friday (Oct. 2) to win a 17-7 defensive struggle with 4A-1 foe Cache.
“Defense keeps playing well and just ran the ball quite a bit better,” Bethany coach Jon Arthur said via phone. “We were able to kind of control the clock in the second half, didn’t have to do anything too crazy offensively to just kind of grind out some first downs and let the defense keep playing well.”
The Bronchos (3-3, 2-0) took a 3-0 lead on a 42-yard Cody Martin field goal in the first quarter. The Bulldogs (4-2, 1-1) moved the ball behind the running of junior Kenyon Sweat, who broke a 34-yard run at the end of the quarter. The Cache drive stalled at the Bethany 22-yard line and sophomore kicker Jordy Goodman missed a field goal to keep the Broncho lead intact.
Cache threatened again after Bethany quarterback Brody McLaren was picked off on a under thrown ball into the wind. Sophomore Jacoby Alonzo had a long return but lost most of it on a penalty 17 seconds left before halftime. The Bulldog drive died at midfield with a sack by junior Mattix Wright as time expired.
The Bronchos tried to extend their lead in the third quarter but a 34-yard Martin field goal was blocked by senior Kanon McCracken.
Then, Cache started giving Bethany gifts.
A promising drive late in the third quarter ended with a Sweat fumble.
Early in the fourth quarter, Sweat lost another fumble. This one was recovered by junior Isaiah White.
With a short field and behind the running of McLaren, the Bronchos answered with a score and consumed nearly four minutes on the clock. McLaren took two tacklers with him to the end zone with 7:23 left and 10-0 lead.
The senior finished with 73 yards rushing on 20 carries.
The Bulldogs responded immediately to McLaren’s score. A horse-collar penalty moved Cache to midfield. Later, a secondary breakdown proved costly as Alonzo was wide open for a 41-yard touchdown with 6:02 left to make it 10-7.
The Broncho offense stalled two more times. After the first Bethany punt, Cache fumbled. After the second punt, senior Eli Mars leapt up for an interception and took it back 14 yards for the clinching score with 1:10 left.
Arthur praised safeties Eli Mars, junior Colin Knudsen and sophomore Noah Mars
“They’ve just gotten better the last few weeks, becoming bonus players in the run game and getting down and making plays. And they obviously had to do that against the Sweat kid from Cache, who’s obviously a great player.”
The Bulldogs rushed for 156 yards on the night but didn’t score on the ground.
In the air, McLaren completed 9-of-16 for 94 yards. Noah Mars caught a 32-yard pass. Freshman Gunner Chesney added two catches for 23 yards.
Freshman Braxton Arthur and senior Cooper Willis each had 17 yards receiving.
UP NEXT
The Bronchos (3-3, 2-0) have a bye week next week before two straight 4A-1 road games. Bethany travels to district favorite Weatherford (6-0, 2-0) on Oct. 15. The game is on Thursday because it is Fall Break.
The Eagles haven’t given up a double-digit point total since a 40-17 win over 5A Lawton MacArthur in the season opener. Weatherford is averaging 41 points a contest.
The Eagles travel west on I-40 next Friday (Oct. 9) for a matchup with Elk City (0-5, 0-2).
After the Oct. 15 game with Weatherford, Bethany will drive back that direction for a contest with Clinton on Oct. 23.
Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany (3-3, 2-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| Cache (4-2, 1-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
BETHANY – Martin 42 field goal, :18, 1Q
BETHANY – McLaren 4 run (Martin kick), 7:23, 4Q
CACHE – Alonzo 41 pass from Puletasi (Goodman kick), 6:02, 4Q
BETHANY – E. Mars 14 interception return (Martin kick), 1:10, 1Q
| Team | Dist | PCT | Dist Pts | Overall | PF | PA | Diff | STK | L5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherford | 2-0 | 1.000 | +30 | 6-0 | 250 | 37 | +213 | W6 | 5-0 |
| Bethany | 2-0 | 1.000 | +13 | 3-3 | 61 | 158 | -97 | W3 | 3-2 |
| Woodward | 1-1 | .500 | +12 | 4-2 | 234 | 128 | +106 | W1 | 3-2 |
| Cache | 1-1 | .500 | -4 | 4-2 | 168 | 116 | +52 | L1 | 3-2 |
| Clinton | 0-1 | .000 | -15 | 3-2 | 125 | 146 | -21 | L1 | 3-2 |
| Douglass | 0-1 | .000 | -15 | 0-5 | 20 | 236 | -216 | L5 | 0-5 |
| Elk City | 0-2 | .000 | -21 | 0-5 | 77 | 212 | -135 | L5 | 0-5 |
Updated October 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
2026 BETHANY FOOTBALL
| Date | Opponent | Time / Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28 | vs Elgin | L 0-42 |
| Sept. 4 | at Jones | L 6-53 |
| Sept. 11 | vs Guthrie | L 0-28 |
| Sept. 18 | at Shawnee | W 28-21 |
| Sept. 25 | vs Woodward* (Homecoming) | W 10-7 |
| Oct. 2 | at Cache* | W 17-7 |
| Oct. 15 | at Weatherford* | 7 PM |
| Oct. 23 | at Clinton* | 7 PM |
| Oct. 30 | vs Douglass* (Hall of Honor) | 7 PM |
| Nov. 6 | vs Elk City* (Senior Night) | 7 PM |
HOME GAMES in bold
* District game
Updated October 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
