Lindsborg, Kan. – The No. 9-ranked Friends University Falcons shook off a brief early deficit and steamrolled the Bethany College Swedes 85-10 in the 2026 season opener tonight (Aug. 29) in Lindsborg, Kan. The 85 points are a school single-game record for the modern era while the 75-point margin of victory is also a program best.
The Falcons got in an early hole after going three and out on the game's opening possession that led to the Swedes taking advantage of a short field and scoring first on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Kane Foreman to Lael Eddens.
Things could have gone from bad to worse following a fumble on the Falcons next possession that gave the Swedes possession at the Friends 16.
However, Cooper Skrobecki made sure not only would that not happen but completely flipped the script by picking up a backward lateral and returning it 76 yards to put the Falcons on the board.
Then late in the first quarter, new Falcon starting quarterback Walker Overman got free for a 33-yard score that made it 12-7.
Friends wouldn't trail again and dominated things from that point, scoring four touchdowns in the second quarter to break things wide open.
Elon Conley began opening the floodgates with a 49-yard scoring scamper and Joey Millspaugh then found the end zone from nine yards out on the Falcons' next possession.
Following a four-yard touchdown run by Jud Cheatham, the Falcons were ready to settle for a field goal before an illegal shift by Bethany on fourth and goal moved the ball to the one-yard line. E'derian Sykes then plunged in to make it 40-10 at the half.
Skrobecki then scored his second touchdown of the game when he intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards on the first possession of the second half.
The Falcons continued their machine-like production and scored on all five of their offensive possessions in the second half, beginning with Sykes and Conley each scoring their second touchdown of the night.
Evan Cantu then scored a five-yard touchdown on the Falcons' first possession of the fourth quarter before Connor Tillman booted a 29-yard field goal.
Millspaugh's second touchdown and a scoring run by Joseph Edick put a cap on the Falcons' historic offensive explosion.
"That first quarter was both frustrating and exactly what we needed," said Friends head coach Terry Harrison. "We have a handful of new coaches and some new players so having to go through some early struggles was awesome. I was most proud of our guys keeping their heads and working through our issues as a team. We all should be proud of how they responded and played the second through fourth quarters."
Conley led a balanced Falcon running attack with a career-high tying 107 rushing yards along with his two scores.
Tyson Wallace led the Falcon defense with eight tackles, with Jake Lucky, Cale Milleson and Wetu Kalamo each recording a sack. Lucky, a freshman from Southlake, Texas, also had 3.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in his first game as a Falcon.
Skrobecki, Mikah Rocco and Logan Morley accounted for the Falcons' three interceptions for a defensive unit that also produced 15 tackles for loss and recovered four fumbles.
Antione Reese III led the Swedes with 12 tackles.
The Falcons will celebrate Senior Night for their home opener next Saturday evening (Sept. 5) vs. Avila University. Kickoff will be at 6 pm at Adair-Austin Stadium.
