Bellaire digs deep in the trenches to bury Union Local
By: Aidan Cagna
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BELLAIRE, Ohio (WOUB) — Union Local and Bellaire faced off on Saturday in an intense battle, and it was the Big Reds coming out on top in a 8-7.
Union Local was looking to redeem themselves from last year’s game against Bellaire. Last year the Big Reds won 14-0.
For the whole first half both teams’ defenses were able to get a stop right before either team could capitalize and take the game. Most people expected Union Local’s Jaksan Price to control this game, as Price is one of the leading rushers in the region. This made Price a big target for Bellaire’s defense.
The player that targeted Price the most was Bellaire’s Logan Edgar. Edgar had a few big hits in the game that could have possibly decided the game.
Bellaire’s defense succeeded in stopping Price from making huge plays. Price is the biggest piece on the Rockets offense and him being pressured didn’t do them any favors.
However this wouldn’t stop the team from scoring first because Carter Blake would figure things out at the start of the third quarter with a pass completed for a touchdown to Billy Schumacher. Union Local would complete the extra point to extend their lead 7-0.
Both teams would go back and forth with the ball for the rest of the third and most of the fourth. But then, the Big Reds would stop the Rockets on a major fourth down.
Bellaire had great field position around midfield, and with a minute left in the game, Bellaire would take it to the house from the two yard line via Drew White.
Bellaire would decide to go for two and the win and they would make the 2 point conversion, and Bellaire takes this one 8-7.
The biggest contributors to the Big Reds victory was their defense. The defense did what they needed to do, which was stopping Price’s running game. Also the defense caught two picks which switched over the momentum onto their side.
This game will have big implications to the seedlings of both teams for the playoffs.