STERLING, Kan. — Sterling defeated Bethany 24-23 on Saturday, Sept. 19 in an overtime thriller. Sterling tied it at 17-17 with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a two-play, 19-second scoring drive that included Jordan McGowan‘s 68-yard pass to Nicholas Trepton.
The Warrior opened the first quarter with a 12-play, 49-yard drive but came away empty after penalties helped push the possession into fourth-and-8 at the Swedes’ 26. Defensively, Sean Watson‘s tackle for a 12-yard loss helped force a Swedes punt, and Sterling later stopped the visitors on fourth down after a fumble gave the Swedes the ball near midfield. Ryan Morgan‘s 38-yard completion to Khyaire Hines moved Sterling’s final drive, and the first quarter ended scoreless with Sterling at the Swedes’ 10.
The Sterling defense opened the second quarter by turning away Bethany’s drive at the Sterling 18, with Jorge Cereceres and Dutton Taylor combining on a fourth-down sack to keep the game at 0-0. Sterling followed with a 75-yard touchdown drive capped by Stephenson Kennard‘s 32-yard run and Emmanuel Roman‘s PAT, then added a safety when Troy Werking Jr. sacked Damian Briano in the end zone. The Swedes scored with 9 seconds left, but Sterling went to halftime ahead 9-7.
In the third quarter, the Warriors were held scoreless while the Swedes scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass and a 40-yard field goal to put Bethany up 17-9. Jordan McGowan‘s 41-yard kickoff return gave Sterling field position at the Swedes’ 49, but the drive ended with Morgan’s interception at the Swedes’ 20. Sterling later moved from its own 35 to the Bethany 26 before the third quarter ended. However, the drive stalled in the fourth quarter with a fumbled snap.
Sterling’s defense held firm in the fourth quarter keeping Bethany scoreless, and the Warriors were able to battle back into the game with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Warriors used a two-play, 69-yard drive that included Jordan McGowan‘s 68-yard completion to Nicholas Trepton and Kennard’s 1-yard touchdown run. Kennard also ran in the two-point conversion to finish the scoring sequence. The Swedes had one snap after the kickoff before the fourth quarter ended 17-17.
The Warriors started with possession in overtime with Morgan starting the drive with a 10 yard rush followed by four rushes by Kennard which culminated in another 1-yard touchdown to put Sterling up 24-23. Defensively, Carlos Lujan blocked the Swedes’ extra-point attempt after a fourth-down touchdown in overtime, and Sterling finished with a 24-23 win.
Kennard rushed 34 times for season high 206 yards and three touchdowns while also running in the game-tying two-point conversion. Trepton led Sterling receivers with 74 yards on two catches and added a 4-yard rush. Jordan McGowan completed his only pass attempt for 68 yards and rushed for 44 yards on eight carries. Kenny Dominguez led the defense with nine tackles. Sterling also totaled a season high of four sacks in the game.
Up next, Sterling (1-3) football team visits Avila (1-3) on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
