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Bethel SID Office Releases Early Look At 2021 Wildcat Football Schedule

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McKENZIE — The Bethel University Sports Information Office released an early look at the 2021 Wildcat Football schedule Thursday.

After a sterling start to the season (2020) earlier this year, the Wildcats suffered through four straight disappointing losses to end the abbreviated year at 3-4.

The 2021 schedule will as always be tough in what many believe is the toughest NAIA football league in the nation. Three Mid-South Conference squads finished the season ranked in the top 15 with Lindsey Wilson winning the NAIA title in convincing fashion. Bethel competes in the tough Bluegrass Division of the MSC.

The Wildcats will play five home games and six road game this fall. Bethel plays six of their first eight games on the road.

The Cats open the season on the road in Cleveland, Mississippi Thursday, September 2 against NCAA DII Delta State. It will be the 12th meeting between the programs with DSU holding a 6-4-1 margin in the series. It will mark the first meeting between the two since 1947.

Second week action will find the Cats visiting St. Andrews in Laurinburg, North Carolina on the 11th for a MSC affair. It marks the first ever meeting between the two.
The Wildcats could very well be deemed the Road Warriors as they remain on the road in Barbourville, Kentucky September 18 to battle the Union College Bulldogs. Bethel is 2-4 in Barbourville but owns 6-5 advantage in the series. The two last met in 2016 with Bethel winning 43-27.

Bethel’s first home game will be a conference game against Reinhardt University on September 25. Reinhardt has a 5-1 margin in the prior meetings. Bethel’s only win came in 2018 (31-21) in the season opener at Wildcat Stadium. RU was 8th in the final 2020 poll.

The Wildcats hit the road again on October 2 traveling to Williamsburg, Kentucky to face the University of the Cumberlands Patriots. U of C leads the series 14-4 although Bethel did win earlier this year 38-14. The Cats are 1-6 in Williamsburg.

The Georgetown Tigers will visit Wildcat Stadium the following week (10/9) for a MSC Bluegrass Divisional match-up. The Wildcats and Tigers have faced each other 12 times with Bethel winning two of the 12. GC beat Bethel 17-14 in Georgetown back in March and finished the season ranked 13th. The Tigers are 5-0 in McKenzie.

The Cats travel to the Eastern Mountains of the Commonwealth October 16 to meet the Pikeville Bears in another divisional game. BU is 6-8 versus the Bears and have lost two straight in the series. The Cats are 3-4 in games played in Pikeville. UPIKE beat Bethel 35-19 in McKenzie earlier this calendar year.

Another divisional road game awaits the Wildcats as travel to Lebanon to meet the Cumberland Phoenix on the 23rd. It will be the 19th meeting between the two programs. The Wildcats have met CU more than any other opponent in program history. The Phoenix upset Bethel in April in McKenzie winning 41-38. The series is tied at 9-9. BU is 1-6 in Lebanon.
Defending NAIA National Champion Lindsey Wilson will come to Wildcat Stadium the following week (10/30) to battle the Cats in a Bluegrass showdown. The Blue Raiders beat Bethel earlier this year dominating 49-7 in Columbia. LWC is 3-0 in McKenzie and had won five of the previous seven meetings.

Two more divisional games remain on the slate as the Thomas More Saints will be Bethel’s Homecoming opponent on November 6. Bethel beat TMC 49-7 in February and is 2-1 all-time against the Saints.

The Cats close out the regular season November 13 against Campbellsville. The series is tied at 7-7 after Bethel beat the Tigers 39-14 in the 2020 game played earlier this year. The Wildcats have won three in a row between the two but have won just one of six games played in McKenzie.

Confirmed game times will be announced when made available.