The Bethany Bison football team shut out Thiel College 20-0, holding the Tomcats to just 258 total yards. The Bison defense was aided by an offense that controlled the ball for over 32 minutes. Sophomore running back Nico Irazarry had 117 rushing yards. The defense was led by junior linebacker Kyle Arrington with 14 tackles. Freshman kicker/punter Stephen Amic was named the PAC Special Teams Player of the Week for averaging 45.6 yards on five punts, including a career-long 65-yard punt.

1. 8 Sports The TOWER
Bison Defense Blanks Thiel Tomcats
By ANTHONY SPARKS yards on 22 carries with one touch- sack. The defense has to keep the
TOWER staff writer down. The other offensive threat, same intensity, which they showed
On Saturday, October 15, The Matt Grimard, was hampered by against Thiel, throughout the rest
Bethany Bison defense surren- five sacks, but still managed to of the season to make a run into the
dered only 258 total yards against have a productive day. He complet- PAC playoffs.
the Thiel Tomcats, and with a 20-0 ed 21-28 throws for 171 yards and Also, freshmen kickerpunter
win, recorded their first shutout two touchdown passes. Grimard’s Stephen Amic was named PAC
since 2001 when they beat West- favorite target, Ed Holmes, had Special Team Player of the Week
minster 24-0. eight receptions for 74 yards with for Oct. 17. The first-year punt-
The Bison defense was aided an 8 yard touchdown catch, bring- er averaged 45.6 yards over five
greatly by the offense; the Bison O ing the score to 14-0 in the second punts in the win against Thiel and
completely controlled the ball, hold- quarter. dropped three inside the Tomcat
ing it for a total time of 32:57. This The defense looked very im- 20-yard line. His second punt of
was a direct result of the run game, pressive, and was lead by junior the game sailed a career-long 65
Sophomore Daryl Powell tied a Bethany single-
with sophomore Nico Irazarry linebacker Kyle Arrington, who yards, which is also the longest
game record with 13 receptions, which went for making his first start over the All- recorded 14 total tackles. Senior boot of the year by a PAC punter;
151 yards and two touchdowns in the Bisons’ loss Time Rushing Leader at Bethany, defensive end Kasib Taalib-Din Amic’s work helped keep the Tom-
at #6 Thomas More Saturday. (Photo courtesy of injured senior Eric Walker, and a collected 9 total tackles, 2 tackles cats pinned back the entire second
Martin Santek Photography)
very memorable one by gaining 117 for loss, a fumble recovery and a half.
Green & White Finish Lacrosse Fall Training Sports Opinion: DIII Athletic Scholarships
By KELVIN THOMAS CJ Studnicky. “These games are By ED HOLMES Alex Evans played cornerback at
TOWER staff writer really about getting everyone game TOWER staff writer the Division II level at Clarion
Last Saturday, the Bethany la- experience and developing team What is the real difference be- University before transferring
crosse team completed their fall chemistry.” tween Division I athletes and Di- here to Bethany College. Alex Ev-
training season with three admira- Studnicky, who started all 12 vision III athletes? Is it a matter ans explained that “the overall
ble performances in the Washing- games for the Bison last spring and of talent? Pierre Garcon played practice was the same” and “at
ton and Jefferson Fall Invitational. two of the three exhibition, says four seasons at wide receiver for Clarion we focused on little tech-
The Fall Invitational, which is the team has shown tremendous the Mount Union Raiders which niques and fundamentals and the
hosted by Washington and Jeffer- improvement since their first sea- is a Division III school and ended commitment level was higher.”
son College to raise money for the son, and attributes much of their up playing in the NFL for the In- The reason is that the athletes
Washington County Special Olym- progress to the experience gained dianapolis Colts. Garcon didn’t were being paid to play at Clarion.
pics, featured six collegiate teams last season by their nine returning just wear the jersey; he became a Football was their job. So in other
from the tri-state area, as well as players. “Last year was definitely standout receiver and a playmaker words, the coaches were paying
two-club teams from Morgantown, a learning experience for a lot of since his rookie year as well as a these players to win games so they
WV. The exhibition also provided our guys, most of whom had very great kick returner. are forced to commit at a higher
the young Bison lacrosse squad little lacrosse experience,” said Size, talent and speed aren’t level, work harder, and critique
with their first action since finish- Studnicky. “Playing together for necessarily the answer. At the the small things.
ing their inaugural season with a a season has really made a differ- Division I level, games are once The Division III committee sat
1-11 record. ence. Although we still have a lot to a week and practice is everyday down and said we want to make
After opening the tournament improve on before the spring, we’re in between games just like in the a separate Division designed for
with losses to William Penn and really coming together as a team.” Division III. Just like at every players who want to focus more on
Morgantown Lacrosse Clubs by Another factor that will be cru- other Division I school, the rules the books rather than the sports.
scores of 8-0 and 5-2, respectively, cial to the Bisons’ success this year for every sport are the same, the “So Division III schools are al-
the Bison responded by finishing will be contributions made by their ball in every sport is the same and lowed Junior Varsity teams, 150
the tournament with a hard-fought eight new players. One who is mak- the size of the field or court is the man rosters, and are not allowed
game against Ohio Valley Univer- ing an immediate impact is sopho- same. So why let only a handful to cut players,” says Head Football
sity that resulted in a 4-4 draw. De- more attacking midfielder Brendan of student athletes receive money coach, Tim Weaver. Therefore, it
spite the results on the scoreboard, Wessells, who scored four of the six and paid tuition for something is more about “fun” for the players.
both Bison players and coaches Bison goals in the three exhibitions. that, when compared, is the same This doesn’t mean that all play-
were pleased with their overall Wessells, a transfer student from thing just at a different level? ers at the Division III level are not
performance and progress made Anne Arundel Community College, One could argue that the com- committed to winning and are less
over the course of the fall season. says the fall season has benefited mitment level and amount of tal- talented. This just means that Di-
“Of course we wanted to win, but him. “This preseason has given me ented players are much higher at vision III athletes are playing for
we played tough against some the opportunity to bond with my the Division I level, but after a their passion of the game rather
quality competition,” says sopho- new teammates and become com- brief interview with Alex Evans, than to see their name up in lights.
more goalie and team co-captain fortable playing with them.” that may not always be the case.