Bethel Wildcats OK 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July and into August, we are publishing well over 100 in-depth team previews to get you completely ready for the 2023 football season. This is something that began in 2021 and has continued to get bigger every single year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champions, to top contenders and plenty of dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A, all the way down to the addition of 8-man coverage this year with Class B and C. In this post, we take a look at the Bethel Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Bethel Wildcats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Prep Redzone Ranking: UR</strong><br><strong>Preseason Coaches Ranking: UR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bethel Wildcats are coming into a new season looking to erase the memories of an injury-plagued 2022 year. But as always, having a season like Bethel had offers some good news amongst all of the bad. The Wildcats built some depth that they otherwise wouldn't have had as we start looking ahead to the 2023 football season. Bethel opened the year off to a good start with a 2-1 slate in non-district play. They would lose to Meeker in their district opener and then survive a double overtime shootout with Kellyville to reach the halfway mark of the year at 3-2. Unfortunately, the Wildcats would manage just one more win the rest of the way as they lost four of their last five and would miss out on the playoffs. The season ended with a 4-6 record but there are a few reasons to be excited about the upcoming season. As mentioned, because Bethel dealt with some various injuries, they played younger players that now come into this season with some much-needed experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A total of 18 starters come back for Bethel as we start looking ahead to the 2023 slate. The defense brings back ten of their eleven starters from last season and that's a side of the ball that we expect to see great improvement as they head into the new season. The offense will bring back eight starters from last season including their starting quarterback and a few other key playmakers from last year's team. Coming into last season, Bethel knew that their district was going to be tough. It was one that had two teams ranked in the preseason top ten and it played out that way throughout the year. Coming into this season, Jones appears to be the heavy favorite to win the district crown once again but after that, it's completely up for grabs. Bethel is hoping to use that experience they received last season from the trial by fire to lead them back to the playoffs for the third time in the last four years.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 RESULTS (4-6 Record - Missed Playoffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Beat Classen SAS 43-12<br>Sept. 9 - Lost To McLoud 21-7<br>Sept. 16 - Beat Little Axe 35-0<br>Sept. 23 - Lost To Meeker 48-34<br>Sept. 30 - Beat Kellyville 55-47 (2OT)<br>Oct. 7 - Lost To Chandler 48-15<br>Oct. 13 - Beat Star Spencer 40-38<br>Oct. 21 - Lost To Crossings Christian 35-0<br>Oct. 28 - Lost To Luther 29-14<br>Nov. 3 - Lost To Jones 49-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Tollett - Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>CJ Compton - Offensive Lineman<br>John Allred - Running Back/Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211564"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We've written this a few times in regards to Bethel but we really like the talent they have in the 2025 class and it starts with [player_tooltip player_id='211564' first='Austin' last='Melson'] at the linebacker position. Like a few other 2025 standouts, Melson has been starting for the Wildcats since he was a freshman and not only has he been a starter, he's been one of their more productive players. As a freshman, he totaled well over 100 tackles on the season. Last year, he would do it again as he finished with over 100 tackles and as the Wildcats look for a way to replace John Allred, we think that Melson fills that gap and becomes the team's leading tackler and an extension of the coaching staff on the field. Melson has a nose for the football and he's proven it already with his first two years at the varsity level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["211558"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One of the storylines for Bethel this season will be 2025 standout [player_tooltip player_id='211558' first='Bryce' last='Tapley'] moving away from the quarterback position. Tapley started for the Wildcats as a freshman and then again as a sophomore before injuries would shut him down for the year. But Bethel's coaching staff realized that the offense will be okay if Tapley isn't under center and that's actually unlocked some things for both Tapley and this Bethel offense. The coaches believe that their 2025 standout is one of the best athletes in the state's 2025 class and specifically in Class 2A. Tapley is going to have an opportunity to prove that on the field as Bethel will move him around offensively and then he'll play for them on defense as a defensive back in the secondary.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["922984"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Bethel has two returning quarterbacks this season and as Tapley was injured, it was 2025 QB [player_tooltip player_id='922984' first='Cale' last='Duncan'] who filled in and really took command of the Bethel offense in 2022. Now, as mentioned, Bethel is going to be used as an overall athlete in a variety of ways and that opens the door for Duncan to be the full time starter for the Wildcats heading into this season. Duncan would throw for just over 500 yards and five touchdowns but we anticipate those numbers to go up this fall. First off, he has had a full offseason to know that this is his offense and he's going to have some legitimate weapons around him. As Bethel looks to find a solid running game, we think that Duncan and the Bethel passing game should be able to pick up the slack offensively.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c07f8290d27"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1348777' first='Alex' last='Barnett'] - 2025 Offensive Lineman<br>Benjamin Martin - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Brayden McGinty - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Linemen<br>Gabriel Palomares - 2024 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1045558' first='Luke' last='Quinter'] - 2026 Linebacker<br>Reagan Curry - 2024 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Talon Barlow - 2025 Offensive/Defensive Lineman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 1 - AT Classen SAS<br>Sept. 8 - McLoud<br>Sept. 14 - AT Little Axe<br><strong>Sept. 22 - Meeker</strong><br>- The district opener comes in week four as the Wildcats will host a Meeker team that got the best of them last season with a 48-34 victory. In 2020 and 2021, these two teams faced off but there wasn't much on the line as it would be non-district games. But this is going to be a big game for the Wildcats as they have playoff aspirations this season. It's only week four, there's a lot of football to be played between this contest and November. But every district game counts and it will be important for the Wildcats to get off on the right foot with a win over the Bulldogs. <br>Sept. 29 - Kellyville<br>Oct. 6 - AT Chandler<br>Oct. 13 - AT Star Spencer<br>Oct. 20 - Crossings Christian<br>Oct. 27 - AT Luther<br><strong>Nov. 3 - Jones</strong><br>- After being district opponents for the majority of the last decade, Bethel and Jones were in different districts from 2018-2021. That changed last fall and the Longhorns continued their dominance in this series with a 49-7 victory. In the last twenty years, the Longhorns have never lost and several of the games have been blowouts. But like we mentioned at the top, they appear to be the top team in this district. If Bethel wants a chance at the district championship, it more than likely will go through Jones. The Wildcats will get their chance with a home game in the final week of the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our opinion, Bethel is a program that is just knocking on the door of becoming a consistent playoff team in Class 2A. With all of the young talent and experience that they've gotten over the last few years, it's only a matter of time before they are kicking that door down. Like just about any team this time of year, Bethel has high expectations coming into this season and one of those expectations are to punch their ticket to the playoffs after missing out last season. But before they become that consistent playoff team, they have to prove it on the field first. Bethel has made a total of four playoff appearances in school history and have only one playoff win and that came in the Covid season of 2020. But to have tradition and consistency, you have to build it first and the Wildcats appear to be on the road to doing just that. On paper, they look like a playoff team. But as we say a lot this time of the year, the game isn't played on paper.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>0 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->