Facing a Miamisburg offense that scored 62 points in the opener and features two skill players going to Division I colleges – receiver Jackson McGohan (Cincinnati) and running back Christian Davis (Ball State) – Bellbrook scored the game’s first 17 points all before Miamisburg logged a first down.
The Eagles (Division III school) improve to 1-1. Burg (D-I) drops to 1-1.
“It was all about playing our absolute best football and not being intimidated by the size, the D-I offers and all that stuff,” Bellbrook head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “We felt very confident coming in. Even in our loss to Tipp (14-10) we learned a lot about ourselves and stuff we needed to correct. The kids were soldiers this week. They were locked in.”
Said veteran Miamisburg head coach Lance Schneider: “That’s the worst loss of my career. No doubt about it.”
Following a 34-yard field goal by Riley Ferrin on the game’s opening possession, the Eagles scored back-to-back touchdowns on their next two drives. Eli Brooks capped both series with 5- and 3-yard touchdown runs. Miamisburg closed the half with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Brock Vaughn to McGohan.
Bellbrook added to its lead with Brooks’ third touchdown of the night – a 35-yard backbreaker with 4:11 to play.
The Vikings responded with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Preston Barr to Conner Smith.
The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Bellbrook’s Carson Labensky with 1:53 to play. Labensky, a senior tight end and punter, stepped in at quarterback for Bellbrook’s first two possessions of the second half after junior starter Luke Benetis exited the game at halftime for the second straight week with cramps. Benetis returned for Bellbrook’s final six snaps of the game. Labensky also booted a 72-yard punt at the end of the first half.
Miamisburg outgained Bellbrook 279-259, but 150 yards came on the Vikings’ two scoring drives. The Eagles defense recorded nine negative-yardage plays, while Miamisburg managed one. Penalties hampered the Vikings at crucial times.
Miamisburg was without senior offensive tackle A.J. Salley who was sidelined by a concussion suffered in practice. He could return next week. Salley holds offers from Miami (Fla.), Tennessee, Oregon, Pitt, Kentucky and Cincinnati among others. He is uncommitted.
McGohan, Davis and Salley all rank among the Top 45 senior prospects in the state according to 247sports.com.
The game was a renewal of a non-league series that was contested 14 times from 2001-2014 with Miamisburg holding an 8-6 lead. The Vikings won the last four by the combined score of 139-33. Before that, Bellbrook won five of six from 2005-2010. The teams will play Week 2 next season. There are no immediate plans to play after that.
“You don’t have anything when you get your butt kicked on both sides of the ball upfront,” Schneider said. “They did a great job. They beat us up upfront on defense and offensively we couldn’t run the ball.”
“That’s just what we do,” Bellbrook junior linebacker Jacob Umina said. “We get after it and hit people. Size doesn’t matter. We’re ballplayers.”
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