AVILA FOOTBALL LOSES NAILBITER AT BETHEL

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – In a back-and-forth battle against KCAC rival Bethel, Avila fell to 1-3 on the season with a 20-17 loss on Saturday night.

Punts from each team opened the game before Avila's Jeffrey Banks forced a Bethel fumble near midfield to give Avila great field position as it looked to open the scoring.

A seven-play drive highlighted by a 12-yard pass from Eli Williams to Jordan Cummings set up a 32-yard field goal from Juan Delgado-Medina. The freshman kicker sent the attempt through the uprights to give Avila an early 3-0 lead.

Following a Bethel punt, Avila put together a 15-play, 85-yard scoring drive that took up eight-minutes of the second quarter, ending in an eight-yard touchdown run from Quentin Curtis.

Back-to-back touchdown drives from the Thrashers gave Bethel a 13-10 lead heading into halftime with Avila set to receive the second-half kickoff.

Avila went three-and-out on the first drive out of the locker room but then forced Bethel into a turnover on downs, giving Avila the ball back near midfield. The Eagles would drive 43 yards down the field, but Delgado-Medina missed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide right as Bethel hung on to a four-point lead.

A three-and-out from the Thrashers gave put the ball back in Eli Williams' hands near midfield with the chance to take the lead.

A 28-yard pass from Williams to Jordan Cummings set up a 13-yard touchdown run from Williams for their second trip to the endzone of the evening.

Avila recovered the ensuing onside kick with a chance to increase their lead further but another three-and-out ended the hopes of another third-quarter score.

Bethel would punt on their next drive with Avila turning the ball over on downs following the punt.

Seven plays into the Thrashers drive saw Avila force another fumble near midfield, but the Eagle offense was unable to capitalize, having to punt the ball away three plays later.

The Thrashers scored quickly on the following drive, thanks to a 54-yard touchdown pass, which would wind up as the game-winning score.

The Eagles were unable to score on the final two drives of the game as Avila heads back to Kansas City with a 20-17 loss.

Eli Williams finished the game with 15 rushes for 145 yards and a touchdown while also adding 190 yards and a score through the air.

Jay Wright led all Avila defenders with nine total tackles – including six solo and a tackle for loss.

Avila returns to The Z for homecoming on September 28 against McPherson for a 1 PM kickoff.