LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – It came down to the last drive of the game for the University of Saint Mary football team, as they came up just short at home against Bethel College, 39-35 in the KCAC ESPN3 Game of the Week.

The Spires are now 1-5 on the season and in the KCAC.

GAME FLOW
Bethel jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, but the Spires quickly answered with 6:20 left in the quarter. Drew Cortez found Tae Turner for eight yards to tie the game at seven. Both teams would add another touchdown – the Spires again tying the game with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Cortez to Bryan Barnhart.

Bethel then scored 10 straight points to take a 24-14 halftime lead over the Spires. The Threshers added another field goal to open the third quarter, but the Spires would start their trek toward a comeback thereafter. Demontrel Wilson added two quick rushing touchdowns, the latter coming with 8:48 left in the period to give the Spires a 28-27 lead. Three minutes later, Cortez added his third touchdown pass of the game with a nine-yard pass to Turner as the Spires led 35-27.

The Threshers however would score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to take a 39-35 lead with 4:11 remaining in the game. The Spires drove down the field in the final minutes, but a fourth down pass to Barnhart came up short of the first down marker as the Threshers held on.

KEY STATISTICS

• Cortez threw for 219 yards and three scores.
• Wilson accumulated 156 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
• Nicholas Holmes added a team high nine tackles on defense for the Spires.
• Barnhart led Saint Mary with 70 receiving yards on six receptions.

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE SPIRES
Saint Mary will host Bethany College on Oct. 20 at Berkel Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.