NO MAYES...the Bethel Bees won without Ryan Mayes (shown above in a game earlier this year) who sat out with an injury.

It's been said by many that the way to stop Bethel is stop Ryan Mayes.

Well, Bethel didn't have Mayes available in Friday's conference match-up with Mississinawa Valley and the Bees still won - thanks to a stiffling defense.

A gritty and determined Mississinawa Valley team moved the ball between the twenties, but had a difficult time scoring.

Bethel had two goal-line stands to preserve the win and improve to 5-3 overall and 5-2 in the CCC.

Curtis Hoffman started things off for the Bees with a two-yard touchdown run and a Thomas Stephenson kick made the score 7-0.

The Bees increased the margin to 13-6 in the second quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass from John Prior to Jordan Burrowes.

Mississinawa Valley cut into the lead before the half as Tracy Harris hauled in a perfect pass from Ryan Dickey from 20 yards away.

That would be the final points of the night as neither team could manage much offense in the second half.

Nathan Brunk had a solid night running the football for Mississinawa as he finished with 125 yards on 20 carries.

Burrowes tallied 101 yards for Bethel, while Hoffman chipped in with 90- yards on the ground.

Record: Bethel 5-3 (5-2); Mississinawa Valley 3-5 (2-5).