The Bethel-Tate Tigers won their fifth game of the season on Oct. 16 in a 34-6 win over Batavia. Each of Bethel’s wins this season have come by 14 points or more. They play Williamsburg on Oct. 23.
The Bethel-Tate Tigers won their fifth game of the season on Oct. 16 in a 34-6 win over Batavia. Each of Bethel’s wins this season have come by 14 points or more. They play Williamsburg on Oct. 23.

By Chris Chaney
Sports Editor

For a culture change to take place at any school or in any program, there have to be results to fall back on. Until recently, the Bethel-Tate football program didn’t have those wins that they needed to build confidence, pride and ultimately, sustained success.

Now, eight weeks into the season, the Tigers sit atop the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division table at 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the league.

“It’s neat to see the change, not only just in football,” head coach Bill Jenike said. “Bethel-Tate High School won the (SBC) All-Sports Award for the first time in school history (in 2014-15). People saw that when you work hard and you’re confident, good things happen.

“In my first two years, you didn’t see (the belief) in their eyes or their demeanor, everything they did. That was the biggest thing. We said we’ve got to change this thing because in life, nothing’s given to you, but you can go out and challenge yourself and get people doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s pretty neat.

“Winning will take care of itself if you’re doing the right things and getting better in your schemes.”

Coming off of a 2014-15 season that saw Bethel go 5-5, the Tigers equaled their win output on Oct. 16 with a 34-6 win over Batavia in Week 8.

An evenly played first half gave way to a flood of Bethel points in the third quarter after some adjustments were made at the break.

“Our first drive (of the game) was good, but we didn’t execute (after that) as well as we should have,” Jenike explained. “The kids responded to being challenged (at halftime). We said if they played the second half at 100 percent, doing their jobs, then things would work out and they did.”

Bethel did their jobs to the tune of a 27-0 second half shutout, confusing and frustrating the Bulldog defense with the Tigers’ bevy of offensive weapons.

Quarterback Jeffrey Botts ran 13 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns while Steven Cooper carried the ball 17 times for three scores. Austin Carter added 30 yards on five carries and Owen Holtke had 24 yards on four rushes. All in all, the Tigers had six guys average 6.0 yards per carry or more.

What makes the Tigers strong start to the season all the more impressive is that they are doing the work while the majority of starters play on both sides of the ball.

As opposed to year’s past, the small numbers that Bethel gets out for the team have not fallen due to injury. The starters are getting Bethel out to early leads, allowing key players to get more rest.

“The difference between (this year and) last year is that against Manchester and CNE, we were in a game; we didn’t come out and dominate and be able to start subbing. We had to battle,” Jenike said. “We were physically and mentally tired going into the last three games of the season (last year) and that’s a big difference. (This year), we’re well rested, mentally and physically and we’re able to go in being fresh.”

The Tigers will need to be at their best this week as they face Williamsburg in a game that may not only dictate who comes out on top in the SBC-National, but also who may earn a trip to the postseason.

“Our kids know what’s at stake. We don’t have to draw it out or lay it out for them,” Jenike said. “Everybody knows that it’s a great opportunity that we’re in control of our own destiny. That’s pretty cool. And I try to explain that to the kids that some teams are on the bubble and not knowing if they’re getting in or not, but we control it and it’s a great spot to be in.”

The Oct. 20 Ohio High School Athletic Association Football Computer Ratings, from which each division and region’s playoff teams are derived, currently have Bethel as the sixth seed in the Division V playoffs. Williamsburg is currently seventh in Division VI. The game Friday night, Oct. 23 at Williamsburg will have big ramifications for both team’s league title and postseason hopes, but they both know that.

Bethel-Tate knows that if they do their jobs and get the little things right, the big things, like conference crowns and playoff berths, take care of themselves.