BELLAIRE – Indian Creek played “smashmouth” football on a cloud-covered Nelson Field Saturday afternoon, with error-prone Bellaire dominating 40-26.
The Redskins (5-1) used their size up front to march up and down the field, collecting 23 first downs along the way and rushing the ball an astonishing 67 times for 320 yards and five touchdowns. was recorded.
Indian Creek’s junior-heavy offensive line averages nearly 260 pounds among the six replacement offensive linemen, including the giant White brothers, Nishon (6-7, 385 points); That included Semaj (6-3, 360 points) and two tight ends. Leading blocker, fullback Jace Nett, checked in at 240.
“We thought we were pretty good up front and wanted to spend some time moving the ball down the field and establish ourselves,” Indian Creek veteran head coach Andrew Conner said. spoke. “Our offensive line was completely lights out and the Bucs ran hard. I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game except for one drive.”
Other linemen were Luke McMillion, Adam Ray, Maverick Woodbury and Brennan Moore. The tight ends were Jomar Johnson and Mason Salazar.
Bellaire opened the scoring with an interception by Cole Swiakos on a fourth-and-6 past two Indian Creek receivers. The senior got out of there and sprinted down the sideline for a 70-yard return. The 2-point shot missed, and the Big Reds (4-2) led 6-0 with 4:50 left in the first quarter.
“He did a great job on that play,” Bellaire head coach Mark Bonner said. “We weren’t moving the ball on offense, so that gave us a spark.”
That would be Ian Starkey’s last pass until late in the second quarter. During this time, Indian Creek ran the ball 30 consecutive times and built a 24-14 lead at the half.
Senior tailback Zion McGee scored three touchdowns in the quarter and also converted a two-point conversion. He completed an 11-play, 69-yard drive with a 2-yard burst off left tackle and around the left end to make it 8-6.
“We didn’t do a good job of stopping the run, but we did some good things,” Bonnard said. “We had some kids play hard and they made some emotional mental mistakes. They (Indian Creek) have a great team. They’re good He did his job.”
On Bellaire’s next possession, a fourth-down pass at the Indian Creek 30 fell incomplete, and the Redskins gained 70 yards in 10 plays as McGee followed Nishhon White and McMillion into the end zone from three yards left. He then scored two more points to secure the victory. Huge difference of 16-6.
Bellaire cut the deficit to 24-14 on a nifty run by Maurice Webb. The senior started on the left, then cut back vertically and horizontally to outscore everyone and complete a 28-yard scoring play. Michael Dippel and Raekwon Pettigrew completed a two-point pass with 7:14 left in the first half. A 37-yard hookup between Dippel and Pettigrew preceded Webb’s run.
McGee weaved through players and ran up the middle for 16 yards to cap off a six-play, 60-yard drive. Starkey then found Caleb Bodo wide open on the left side of the end zone to make it 24-14.
After forcing the Redskins to punt on their first possession of the third quarter, Belair struck again. Dippel found Pettigrew just inside the left corner of the end zone from 15 yards left, capping a 10-play, 91-yard march to make it 24-20 with 6:40 left in the third quarter.
Indian Creek took a 32-20 advantage when Bruce Mazar ran it in from 10 yards out and Starkey connected with Jomar Johnson for a two-point pass.
Webb returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Indian Creek 35, and it took just three plays for Bellaire to score. Dippel had an 11-yard hookup to Luke Hetherington in the middle of the end zone, but the PAT kick was blocked and the Redskins were on top 32-26 late in the third quarter.
Indian Creek stuck with a strong ground game, with Mazar diving in from two yards out and advancing 60 yards in 10 plays. A key personal foul penalty against Belair helped propel that forward. Gavin Pownall scored the final point of the match.
The Big Reds drove to the Indian Creek 19 but fumbled with just under seven minutes left. Redskins forward Mason Lester has recovered.
Conner said Bellaire was forced to punt again, but Jorden Hines intercepted the pass in the final seconds of the game, and the Redskins ran out the remaining time to improve to 5-1 for the first time in five years.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been 5-1, so this win really means a lot to us going on the road,” Connor added. “Berea is a good team. Today was a team win for us.”
McGee led a trio of monsters in the backfield with 140 yards and three TDs on 30 carries. Pownall scored 84 points on 17 tries, and Mazar added 68 points and two goals on 11 tries.
Bellaire’s Bradyn Beckett had 17 completions for 119 yards, and Dippel completed half of his 16 attempts for 147 yards and two TDs. Pettigrew had 4 catches for 101 and Hethering had 46 catches for four.
“Our young quarterback did a great job. He did some really good things,” Bonner said of the sophomore Army general.
The Big Reds were flagged 11 times for 100 yards.
Indian Creek hosts Harrison Central on Friday, while Bellaire visits St. Clairsville.
game notes
– Bellaire’s Keegan Davis was stretchered off the field in the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury.