By MATT SWINEA
pressbox1.com

McKENZIE - Bethel held firm to the No. 5 spot in the latest NAIA poll released Monday. The Wildcats picked up 10 more points for a total of 347 after a 49-20 win over Belhaven College this past Saturday.

The other big news for Bethel is that The University of Virginia at Wise moved to the number seven spot after defeating then-No. 7 Georgetown 63-56. The Wildcats will be hosting the Cavaliers 1:30 Saturday, September 29. This year’s match up of top-10s bests last year’s match up of No. 4 Georgetown and No. 9 Bethel. The winner of this year’s game, should be on the fast track for the playoffs come November.

It should be an entertaining game as UVA-Wise is ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 50.0 points per game. Bethel is currently ninth in the nation with 38.0 points per game. Although UVA-Wise is ranked third and Bethel is ranked ninth, only 50 yards separate the two schools in total offense, 500.3 to 450.3. Bethel does have the advantage in the run game, as they rank fourth with 266 yards per game. Wise is ranked 40th in rushing with 137.5 yards per game. Wise is the second best passing team in the country, averaging 362.8 yards per game. Bethel comes in at No. 39 with 184.3 per game.

The Wildcats do have a distinctive advantage on the defensive side of the ball. Bethel is No. 43 in limiting offenses to 25.5 points per game. The Cavaliers are 82nd, six spots from the bottom, allowing fifteen more points per game with 40.5. Bethel allows 382.5 yards per game of total offense for No. 58, but UVA-Wise is No. 82 allowing 475.5 per game. Bethel also holds the edge in sacks with a total of nine this year for 2.3 per game. UVA-Wise is ranked No. 61 with five total sacks good for 1.3 per game.

The match-up also features the top two running backs in the NAIA from last season. UVA-Wise’s Ra’Shad Morgan and Bethel ’s Adrain Smith were both named AFCA All-Americans. Morgan finished with 1,657 yards last season and Smith had 1,538.