Bethel High School opened its football season with a 28-27 loss at Northridge on Friday. Both teams fought valiantly, trading touchdown for touchdown throughout most o f the game. Victory remained within the grasp of both teams, right up until the final seconds of the game.
The Bees came out strong after the kick with Daryle Wilson making an initial 15 yard run to open the game. The Bees continued to inch their way to the goal line, earning first down after first down, before settling on the 13 yard line. After being flagged for a false start, Bethel turned the ball over to Northridge when Drew Ogletree intercepted the throw from quarterback Jacob Evans. Ogletree broke the line and carried the ball all the way back, scoring the first goal of the game.
The second quarter saw the Bethel Bees come out fighting again, with Josh Wills quickly evening up the game. Bethel’s kicker, junior Erica Turner, earned the team a 7-6 lead with the extra point. Bethel was able to stop Northridge in every attempt to regain the lead, finally getting back control of the ball on downs. After running the ball himself and earning an immediate first down, quarterback Jacob Evans threw a 65 yard touchdown pass to Wills, giving the Bees an eight point lead.
Ogletree recovered the kick and made his way downfield before being stopped by a swarm of Bees at the 47 yard line. Jailon Curtis advanced the Polar Bears another 13 yards, followed by Curtis who carried the ball the rest of the way, ending the first half in a 14-14 tie after a successful two-point conversion.
The second half showed that both teams were determined to take control of the game as Bethel and Northridge continued to trade touchdown for touchdown. After keeping Northridge from advancing after the kick, an interception and 51 yard run by Wills earned Bethel the lead. Northridge pushed back down the field to the 10 yard line, where Polar Bear QB Anthony Carroll ran the ball in for a touchdown. After another failed attempt at a two-point conversion, Northridge fell just one point away from tying the game in the third quarter.
After keeping the Bees at bay near the end of the third quarter, Northridge was able to position Carroll to again run in a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion saw Northridge end the game with a seven point lead.
Quick into the fourth quarter, Wills and Ian Anderson were able to push the Bees all the way to the goal line. Bethel quickly set up for a two-point conversion to take the lead, but the Bees were unable to complete it, leaving Bethel trailing by a single point. A valiant effort by Anderson near the end of the fourth quarter ended with an injured Anderson being helped off the field by teammates. Though they fought hard and showed that this team has a lot of heart, Bethel was unable to score again. With only seconds left on the clock, Northridge regained control of the ball and was able to run down the clock for a Polar Bear victory.
