WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College returns home Monday looking to get back on track in KCAC flag football, and the Builders will face a Bethel team still searching for its first win.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. March 16 at Richard L. Jantz Stadium, where Southwestern (3-2) (3-2) will host Bethel (0-4) (0-4) in a conference matchup.
Southwestern enters after a 53-20 road loss at Baker, but the Builders still have shown the profile of a team that can control games with its passing attack and opportunistic defense. Southwestern is averaging 197.4 yards of total offense per game, including 178.4 through the air, and has produced 47 first downs in five games, with 37 coming by pass.
Quarterback Kennedi Hayes has led that attack, completing 76 of 113 passes for 628 yards and six touchdowns. Her accuracy and volume have made Southwestern a pass-first team, especially in key situations. The Builders have not scored a rushing touchdown this season, so their offense is at its best when Hayes gets into rhythm and spreads the ball to multiple receivers.
Vivianna Solis leads Southwestern with 22 catches for 172 yards, while Mary Jones has been the biggest big-play threat with nine receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Devina Lytle has added 12 catches for 102 yards, and Aiyanna Sims is averaging 18.3 yards per catch with two touchdown receptions. That mix gives Southwestern a balanced receiving group built more on timing and distribution than on a traditional power run game.
The Builders have also been able to generate momentum with defense and special teams. Southwestern has five interceptions and 21 tackles for loss through five games. Kennedy Wesley leads the team with 20 tackles, Andrea Moon has 16 tackles and two sacks, and Solis has 14 tackles with four pass breakups. Jones has added two interceptions, giving Southwestern a defense that can create short fields and change possessions quickly.
Bethel, meanwhile, has struggled on both sides of the ball. The Threshers are averaging 27.8 total yards per game on offense, including just 53.3 passing yards per game, and have yet to score a point through four conference contests. Bethel has thrown 13 interceptions and completed only 40 percent of its passes, signs of an offense that has had difficulty sustaining drives and protecting the ball.
Kyndall Longman has thrown for 151 yards, while Nevaeh Gonzales has added 19 passing yards and has also carried much of the rushing load. Bethel's rushing numbers show the challenge it has faced up front: the Threshers have minus-102 rushing yards as a team and are averaging minus-25.5 rushing yards per game. Their best chance at generating chunk plays has come through the air to Cj Bundy, who leads the team with 82 receiving yards, and Amber Clawson, who has 12 catches for 61 yards.
Defensively, Bethel has been under pressure most of the season. Opponents are averaging 299 passing yards per game and have thrown 29 touchdown passes in four games. The Threshers do have some activity in the secondary, with three interceptions led by Nevaeh Gonzales' two and Sarah Contreras' one, and Cj Bundy leads the defense with 14 total tackles. But Bethel's overall style has been reactive, with opponents forcing the pace and finding explosive plays early.
The matchup history favors Southwestern heavily. The last meeting between the teams came April 2, 2025, when Southwestern rolled to a 68-0 victory. In that game, the Builders piled up 371 total yards, forced four interceptions and held Bethel to just 75 yards of offense. Hayes threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns in that matchup, while Southwestern's defense turned takeaways directly into points.
That earlier meeting also offered a clear snapshot of the contrasting styles in this series. Southwestern attacked vertically and capitalized on turnovers, while Bethel struggled to handle pressure and generate consistent offense. Many of the same themes carry into Monday's game.
For Southwestern, the formula is straightforward: get Hayes comfortable early, let the receiving corps work in space and continue creating disruption on defense. The Builders have shown they can win lower-scoring games when their defense leads the way, but against Bethel this looks like a chance to re-establish offensive rhythm as well.
For Bethel, the priority will be avoiding the quick mistakes that have turned games against them. If the Threshers can protect the ball and limit Southwestern's short-field opportunities, they may be able to keep the game competitive longer. But on paper, Southwestern's passing efficiency and defensive playmaking give the Builders a clear edge entering Monday's conference game.
