1. Anthony Sparks
The Tower
October 19, 2011
Bison Beating
Having a very slow first quarter, the second quarter where most of the scoring was taken
place. The Bethany Bison had three scores against the Thiel Tomcats. In a result, the defense
only surrendered 258 total yards, and with the 20-0 win in this contest would be there first
shutout since their rout win of 24-0 against Westminster in Oct., 2001.
The strength of the offense was how well the ball was controlled; the Bison held the ball
for a total time of 32:57. The run game can be a result of this, having Nico Irazarry making his
first start over the All-Time Rushing Leader at Bethany, injured senior Eric Walker, and a very
memorable one by gaining 117 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown. The other offense
threat, Matt Grimard, didn’t have a too bad of a day, even though being sacked 5 times by the
Tomcat defense. He completed 21-28 throws for 171 yards, two touchdown passes. Grimard’s
favorite target, Ed Holmes, would have 8 receptions for 74 yards with an eight yard touchdown
catch, which brought the score 14-0 in the second quarter, for the afternoon.
The defense looked very impressive, being lead by junior linebacker Kyle Arrington, who
recorded 14 total tackles and senior defensive end Kasib Taalib-Din, who had just an even
excellent day, by collecting 9 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a sack. The
defense has to keep the same intensity, which they showed against Thiel, throughout the rest of
the season to make a run into the PAC playoffs.
Also, freshmen kickerpunter Stephen Amic was named PAC Special Team Player of the
Week for Oct. 17. The first-year punter averaged 45.6 yards over five punts in the win over TC
and dropped three inside the Tomcat 20-yard line. His second punt of the game sailed a career-
long 65 yards, which is also the longest boot of the year by a PAC punter; Amic’s work helped
keep the Tomcats pinned back the entire second half.