WICHITA, Kan. – For those familiar with the famed musical group Credence Clearwater Revival's hit "Who'll Stop the Rain", the answer today was no one, but that didn't matter as for the second straight season, the No. 23-ranked Friends University Falcons pitched a shutout over the Bethel College Threshers in a rainstorm, this time 28-0 on a Senior Day that featured multiple weather delays today (Nov. 2) at Adair-Austin Stadium.
The Falcons have now outscored the Threshers by a combined score of 71-0 the last two years.
Friends grabbed momentum immediately, with Kasey Lehman forcing a fumble on the game's opening kickoff that Wetu Kalomo recovered at the Bethel 28.
The Falcons then pushed the ball to the goal line and on fourth and one, K'Vonte Baker rushed for a yard to convert before Nick Cordova scored from one yard out for the first score of the game.
After the defense forced the Threshers to lose six yards on three plays, the offense took over and methodically marched down the field, with Cordova finishing an 11 play, 40-yard drive with his second touchdown to make it 14-0 with 3:20 left in the first quarter.
It stayed 14-0 into halftime and following another weather delay, Kaden Rigsby promptly got free for a career-long 65-yard touchdown burst to push the Falcon lead to 21 points.
With the Threshers threatening to score late in the third, Cooper Skrobecki wrapped up quarterback DJ Ciers on fourth and goal from the 17 to preserve the shutout.
Treylan Gross then finished out the scoring and put the finishing touches on the Falcons' eighth win of the year with a 19-yard scoring run with 6:10 left in the game.
Cordova's 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns fueled the Falcons' offensive attack, with Gross finishing with 106 yards on the ground and one score. Baker wound up with 95 rushing yards for the Falcons.
Ciers came in and led the Threshers with 66 yards rushing yards and Josiah Buller had a pair of catches for 43 yards. Ethan Cook passed for 83 yards for Bethel, who fell to 4-5 and 0-3 in the KCAC Kessinger Division.
Friends outgained Bethel 452-181 in total offense overall.
Barrett Roads was a force defensively for the Falcons, recording seven tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss.
Massiah Bracher paced the Threshers with 13 stops on the day.
The win for the Falcons sets up a key divisional matchup next Saturday (Nov. 9) at McPherson College, who handed No. 16-ranked Evangel University its first loss earlier today and now sits 3-0 in the Kessinger Division, one game ahead of Friends.
