GREENVILLE, Pa. - The Bethany College football team defeated Thiel (Pa.) College by a final score of 17-12 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game at Alumni Stadium.

Bethany (1-8, 1-6 PAC) took down Thiel (1-8, 1-6 PAC) to earn their first victory of the season thanks to a big 14-point third quarter. Despite being shutout in the first half, the Bison took a 14-6 lead with one period left to play and kicked an insurance field goal at the 8:39 mark. However, the Tomcats went on a 61-yard drive to make it a one possession game with just 54 seconds left. Thiel attempted the onside and seemingly recovered it to set up a game-winning drive, but an illegal touch by the Tomcats allowed Head Coach Brandon Robinson's squad to take victory formation and kneel out the final minute.

Bethany (1-8, 1-6 PAC) Leaders

• Junior All-PAC quarterback Brett Phillips (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) completed 16 of 27 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns
• Sophomore running back Richard Buchannon (East Cleveland, Ohio/Euclid) picked up 69 yards on the ground on 15 carries to lead the Bison
• Sophomore receivers Jacob Burns (Charleston, W.Va./Herbert Hoover) and receiver Jermain Beersingh (Miami, Fla./Hialeah Senior) caught for 61 yards and 43 yards, respectively, with a touchdown pass each
• Offensive linemen Alex Beaver (Bethesda, Ohio/Union Local), Shonathan Desena (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area Senior), Nick Lipinski (Leavittsburg, Ohio/LeBrae), Nick Stuchell (Jeannette, Pa.), and Elijah Morgan-Washington (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) provided some great protection for Phillips and the rest of the Green and White offense
• Sophomore defensive back Blaike Adams (Parsons, W.Va./Tucker County) followed last week's big game with a game-high eight tackles including seven solos
• Freshman linebacker Jahzier Lassiter (Baltimore, Md./Merghanthaler Vocational) recorded a career-high six tackles with two tackles for a four-yard loss
• Sophomore defensive back Monti Phillips Jr. (San Antonio, Texas/Holy Cross) intercepted two passes: a season-high for the Green and White
• Freshman defensive back Nickolas Rispa (Homestead, Fla./South Dade) also notched six tackles and an interception while freshman linebacker Eddie Laumoli (Columbus, Ga./Shaw) also had an interception

Thiel (1-8, 1-6 PAC) Leaders

• Freshman quarterback Keller Herzberger threw for 282 yards on 24-for-38 passing with one touchdown
• Graduate running back Deon Logan had 23 carries as he rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown
• Freshman receiver Riley Dunbar had 122 receiving yards on seven catches including one touchdown reception
• Senior linebacker Jake Badger led the Tomcats with six tackles

First Quarter (Thiel 6-0)

• 10:43 - Logan took it into the endzone from the two-yard line to strike first for the Tomcats (Two-point conversion failed)

Third Quarter (Bethany 14-6)

• 12:30 - Phillips connected with Burns on a free play following an offsides penalty on Thiel (Sophomore kicker Caden Langley (Wellsburg, W.Va./Brooke) kick good)
• 4:46 - Beersingh put the Bison on top after a 33-yard reception from Phillips (Langley kick good)

Fourth Quarter (Bethany 17-12)

• 8:39 - Langley provided some insurance points for the Green and White with a 22-yard field goal
• 0:54 - Herzberger led Thiel down the field capping the drive off with a touchdown strike to Dunbar (Two-point conversion failed)

The Bison are back in action Saturday, November 15 as they travel to Meadville, Pennsylvania to take on Allegheny (Pa.) College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game at 1 p.m. at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.