Sports
Belpre Hopes to Carry Winning Streak Into Playoffs
By: Megan Vanselow
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Belpre (8-2, 7-1 TVC-Hocking) and Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (8-2, 6-0) face off in the first week of post-season play this Friday.
Belpre is returning to the Ohio High School Football Playoffs for a second consecutive year with a roster that nearly mirrors that of a season ago. However, the players aren’t the only familiar thing around it.
This time last year, the Golden Eagles finished its regular season with eight wins, capped off with six successive victories. Sound familiar?
Belpre went on to lose its first playoff game to Fredericksburg, ending the year, and turning its focus towards the next season.
So here it is, a year later; eight more wins under its belt, riding an eight-game win streak. Will the next steps play out differently? At the start of this season, Coach Greg Adams knew the team couldn’t be overly confident.
“Taking it day by day,” Adams said. “We have to focus on the opponent coming up and not getting ahead of ourselves.”
Despite Adams’ efforts, the Golden Eagles may have been over confident after all. Belpre did fall flat to start the season losing its openers to Fort Frye (10-0) and Trimble (8-2, 7-0) only scoring six points in the two matchups.
It was when Belpre faced its winless conference foe in Federal Hocking (0-10, 0-7) that the season turned around. With a 46-7 blowout over the Lancers, Belpre outscored opponents 342-85 the rest of the season.
Fourth year starting quarterback Tavian Miller led the Golden Eagles along with Dejion Bedgood and the rest of the explosive offense.
The defense too had a stellar season, allowing the offense to outscore opponents by at least 32 points in six of its eight wins.
On the other side of the field will be the No. 4 in Division VII, Region 25, Harvest Prep.
The Warriors are a solid match for Belpre. They too have eight wins and two losses, to Bexley and Alexander, that came early in the season. Harvest Prep’s powerful offense generated just four more points in its wins than the Golden Eagles (346). Its defense, however, gave up 100 points in this season’s wins and 172 overall, while Belpre allowed 145 total.
Warrior quarterback Rodney Meyers Jr. has talent both in the air and on the ground. Isaiah Mullens and Curtis Jones are also threatening offensive players that will be tough to stop.
The biggest key for Belpre to walk away with a win over Harvest Prep will be defense. Finding a way to stop Meyers and Mullens might be enough to edge the Warriors.
Kickoff is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Canal Winchester Harvest Prep High School.
Winner of the game will play the victor of South Gallia and Danville on Nov. 13.