Towering targets could lead Bethel through 3A Pierce County League

Bethel was one win away from going to the 4A state tournament in 2015.

That was as a member of the 4A SPSL. The Braves now belong to the 3A Pierce County League, and are looking forward to new opportunities against new opponents.

“You have some really good teams in this league that have a lot of tradition,”Bethel coach Mark Iddins said. “We’ve scrimmaged Lakes every year, we know they are good. We’ve played with Lincoln in some passing tournaments. We get to see some new stuff, and we know we got some competitive teams, so we are excited.”

Iddins is entering his third year as the Braves head football coach. Under Iddins, Bethel has taken a high-powered offensive approach by using a spread offense. The team scored more than 30 points in six of its nine regular-season games in last year. Bethel is 11-9 under Iddins.

“We do open it up,” Iddins said. “We think we have some good receivers, and we know we got some good quarterbacks, but we think we will be able to run the ball, too. Idealy, we would like to be balanced, but we are gonna come after teams. We are going to try to score points.”

The offensive approach plays into Bethel’s best attributes. Jarrell Anderson and Savon Bell-Johnson provide physical receiving threats for the Braves. Anderson has a towering 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame and last year averaged 48.2 receiving yard per game as a sophomore.

Bell-Johnson is 6-4, 205 pounds, plays tight end, and is entering his senior season. after catching three touchdowns in the five games he played last year.

“We have a strong receiving core, and they put in a lot of work,” Iddins said. “Jarrell Anderson has put in a lot of work, and Bell-Johnson should be a D-I tight end.

“Friday nights man. We’re excited for it, finally get to play some games.”

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 9:39 PM with the headline "Towering targets could lead Bethel through 3A Pierce County League."