Bethel can’t afford for its winning streak to end.

Now in the postseason, the Braves had won their last seven games entering Week 10. Luckily for Bethel, there was little cause for concern Saturday night against visiting Lake Stevens.

The Braves took advantage of early miscues for a 26-0 lead in the first quarter and quickly dispatched the Vikings in a 42-7 victory for their eighth consecutive win.

The celebrations will be short-lived, because Bethel will next face powerful Skyview.

“It’s a big win, but we have to get ready for Skyview,” Bethel coach Gavin Kralik said. “As nice as this is we have to get ready for next week.”

Bethel senior running back Anthony Meray rushed for 119 yards on 21 carries and had two touchdowns to lead the Braves on the ground. Despite the stormy weather, quarterback Justin Hordyk had no problem taking to the air, where he completed 13 of 25 passes for 195 yards and three scores.

And then there was the Bethel defense, which forced the Vikings to punt nine times, and held running back Brennan Frost to 63 yards on 13 carries.

Problems started right away for Lake Stevens.

The Vikings fumbled away the opening kickoff, which Meray turned into a score on a 1-yard run.

On the Vikings’ next possession, their punt was blocked in the end zone and Nathan Lott fell on the ball for another score barely two minutes into the game.

“We were able to obviously cash in on some key turnovers early in the game,” Kralik said. “It was a great start for us and it made our work a lot easier.”

Hordyk connected with Tommy McDonald twice and Skylar Copeland once for three consecutive passing touchdowns.

Meray ended the scoring frenzy with a 26-yard run, and kicker Brandon Bailey capped Bethel’s scoring with a 30-yard field goal for a 42-0 advantage with four minutes remaining in the first half.

On the final play of the first half, Lake Stevens’ Brandon Preslar scored on a 4-yard run.

Neither team’s offense generated anything in a scoreless second half.

“We couldn’t really get it going like we wanted to,” Kralik said. “We have to clean that up.”