BOLIVAR, Mo. – The SBU Bearcats defeated the Bethany College Swedes, 83-6, and rewrote the school's record books with their second consecutive win of the season.
It was the first time the Bearcats had put two straight Ws in the books since October 20 & 27, 2001.
SBU set a school record for points scored, with 83. They set a record for touchdowns in a game, with 12. SBU set a record for greatest margin of victory, at 77 points. The Bearcats generated 677 yards of total offense, also a school record. They set SBU records for passing touchdowns both as a team (6) and individually (Gachette with all 6). Today was the most extra points by a kicker, Justin Finch hitting 11.
Gachette finished the day 24-29-0 for 314 yards. Jeff Finnell rushed 15 times for 105 yards. Deandre Brown added 98 yards on 13 carries.
"Gachette was great today," said SBU's head coach, Keith Allen. "He's an athlete who loves to play. He understood why we took him out in the second half, but I could tell he was disappointed. I can't say enough about how great our kids did. They were focused. Our coaches had really prepared them for today. We came in with the right game plan. We like to pass as much as anyone, but we ran the ball almost 50 times. We've just been taking what teams have been giving us. Our kids loved the way our campus was last week. It was a great atmosphere here at SBU. They are hungry for wins, and will do anything to keep this going."
The game's first four touchdowns belonged to SBU, all in the first quarter. Gachette threw to Reuben Hartzler for a 5-yard touchdown at the 13:15 mark. Two minutes later, Gachette found Josh Vaughn from a yard out, making the score 14-0, SBU. Gachette's next touchdown strike came with 5:19 left in the first quarter, as he hit Thaddeus Sanders on a 17-yard route. SBU capped the first quarter with a 9-yard scoring run from reigning ICAA player of the week, Jeff Finnell. SBU 28, Bethany 0.
Bethany got on the board early in the second quarter when Swede quarterback Zachar Waggoner hit Collin Parks from 33 yards out for the Swede's only score of the day at the 14:54 point of the second quarter.
Gachette went back to work as he hit John Austin for a 28-yard touchdown, then Clint Carroz with a 4-yard touchdown.
Gachette ended the first half with a 7-yard touchdown run at the 1:05 mark, making the halftime score SBU 49, Bethany 6.
Gachette's sixth and last scoring pass found Johnnie King in the end zone from 32 yards out, giving SBU a 55-6 lead. Deandre Brown added a couple of touchdown runs from 9 and 4 yards out, stretching the Bearcat lead to 69-6. SBU ended their scoring in the 3rd quarter when Lorenzo Head ran a blocked punt (by Tyler Rickard) in from 22 yards for the touchdown.
SBU's only score in the fourth quarter was provided by Thaddeus Everson, who carried the ball 3-yards for a touchdown, to complete the scoring on SBU's record-breaking day.
With the win, the Bearcats even their record at 2-2. They head to Owensboro, Kentucky on Saturday, September 27, to play Kentucky Wesleyan.
"Kentucky Wesleyan is going to be a touch challenge next week," said Allen. "It's a long drive to play them at their place, and it's always tough to play long road games. We're going to spend next week trying to have a better offense, defense, and kicking game."
Final Stats
