Bethel Christian’s Cody Dunk ran for a game-high 236 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans defeat Community Christian 76-18 Tuesday. Photo by William “Bud” Hardy / Neuse News

Bethel Christian’s rallying cry this season is “Change the Culture” and the Trojans certainly responded in kind Tuesday.

The Trojans set a school record in points scored with a 76-18 thrashing of Community Christian Tuesday. Only four days after falling to Northeast/Hobgood Academy 58-34 and Hurricane Florence forcing this game up by four days, Bethel Christian (1-2) was able to set aside the distractions and get its first win of the season in a historic fashion.

The Trojans’ previous high in points scored was 72 in a contest against Hobgood Academy on Oct. 28, 2016. Cody Dunk, who ran for 236 of the team’s 518 rushing yards Tuesday, said the team wanted to respond after last week’s loss to the Eagles and the Cyclones (1-2) caught the brunt of the ground game.

“We’ve got to fight through adversity,” Dunk said. “In the second quarter we were slacking a little bit because we had the lead, so Monday at practice we worked on being more physical and keeping (that) throughout the game.”

Community Christian started strong through the air with a Reece Bartlett touchdown pass to Tyrik Fate, but Josh Sutton responded with a pair of touchdown runs for Bethel Christian to put the Trojans up 16-6. A trick play allowed the Cyclones to get within four when Bartlett found offensive lineman Josh Harper for a 40-yard touchdown, however, a 41-yard scamper by Dunk boosted the Bethel Christian lead back to 24-12 after one quarter.

Dunk’s touchdown would be the start of 60 unanswered points for the Trojans. Bethel Christian didn’t attempt a pass the entire game, utilizing their strength of Dunk and Sutton. The pair accounted for seven touchdowns and Sutton added 165 yards on the ground, as the running clock started in the second half with the Trojans ahead 64-12.

The Trojans did have 12 penalties in the first half, including nine for 75 in the opening quarter, but Sutton said the team was able to get its composure back in a big way.

“We had to get our mind to it, stop fumbling and stop letting people get in our heads,” Sutton said.

Bethel Christian coach Brick Crowder said the team was able to recover early and atoned for those mistakes quickly.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first quarter, which has kind of been our M.O. in the first two games, which is why we lost,” Crowder said. “We challenged the culture here (Monday) in practice and really got it on the day before the game. I told them it’s time to man up around here and I’m proud of the way our guys responded.”

BETHEL CHRISTIAN 76, WILSON CHRISTIAN 18

WC         12           0              0              6 — 18

BCA        24           40           12           0 — 76

First Quarter

CC — Tyrik Fate 24 pass from Reece Bartlett (run failed), 6:42

BCA — Josh Sutton 25 run (Sutton run), 5:42

BCA — Sutton 15 run (Connor Williams run), 3:06

CC — Jacob Harper 40 pass from Reece Bartlett (run failed), 1:28

BCA — Cody Dunk 41 run (Sutton run), 1:19

Second Quarter

BCA — Williams 39 run (Dunk run), 10:49

BCA — Sutton 47 run (Boyd run), 8:33

BCA — Dunk 33 run (Williams run), 3:25

BCA — Sutton 13 run (Boyd run), 2:22

BCA — Dunk 15 run (Boyd run), 2:00

Third Quarter

BCA — Logan Bullock 50 run (run failed), 10:52

BCA — Tyler Eubanks 24 run (run failed), 6:00       

Fourth Quarter

CC — Jordan Tyner 16 run (run failed), 1:35

N             BCA

First Downs                        9              12

Rushes                                 38-121   32-518

Passing                                 3-13-0   0-0-0

Passing Yards                     75           0

Total Yards                          196         518

Punts                                    0-0.0      0-0.0

Fumbles                               5-3          2-1

Penalties                             3-20       12-95

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Community Christian: Gavin Wiley 24-36, Jordan Tyner 5-34, Reece Bartlett 5-31, Tyrik Fate 3-14, Landon Beaman 1-6. Bethel Christian: Cody Dunk 12-236, Josh Sutton 11-165, Logan Bullock 1-50, Connor Williams 2-46, Tyler Eubanks 1-24, Zack Boyd 1-2,  Easton Truett 1-2, Colby Eubanks 3-minus 7.

PASSING — Community Christian: Bartlett 3-13-0, 75.

RECEIVING — Community Christian: Jacob Harper 1-40, Fate 1-24, Tyner 1-11.