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Through 10 regular-season games, Bellbrook had protected the football with the same vigor that Fort Knox guards gold. Friday, the Golden Eagles lost their Midas touch. Sheridan’s defense was a major reason why.
Committing four second-half turnovers, Bellbrook fell for the first time, losing 27-19 to the visiting Generals in a Division III, Region 11 high school football quarterfinal at Miami Valley South Stadium.
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Sheridan (10-1), ranked No. 7 in the final AP state poll, advances to play Granville (10-1) in the regional semifinals next Friday at a site to be determined.
Bellbrook, ranked No. 2, finishes 10-1 after producing the program’s third undefeated regular season in 54 years of football.
“Our game plan was to methodically move the ball down the field and we did a decent job at times with that,” Bellbrook head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “We excel on third and short, not third and long. Too many times we were put in that situation. They have a great defense.”
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Bellbrook had a great run.
During a regular season in which it outscored the opposition 382-109, the Eagles had relied on a strong dose of senior backs Sedrick Ferguson and Justin Sloan (both over 1,000-yards) and ball security.
Sloan scored two first half touchdowns on runs of 3 and 10 yards as Bellbrook staked a 13-6 halftime lead.
Scoring on the first possession of the third quarter, Sheridan recovered Ferguson’s first fumble of the season on the ensuing kickoff.
On Bellbrook’s next two possessions, Sheridan picked off senior quarterback Brendan Labensky. Both resulted in touchdown drives and a 27-13 lead for the visitors with 7:53 to play. Labensky had thrown one interception prior.
Despite the deficit, Bellbrook rallied. Labenksy hit Cameron Brittian for a 52-yard touchdown pass with 2:23 to go and Bellbrook’s Sam Sherrill recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Labensky – who Jenkins called a “soldier” for playing with a torn ACL since Week 4 – was lost on first down after aggravating his knee injury. Sophomore Alex Westbrock came in, and after a sack on second down, threw an interception on third-and-30.
“They got us out of our comfort zone in the second half,” Jenkins said. “We made some bad decisions, but they made big plays when the game mattered and we did not.”
Said Culver: “How do you get away with a two-hour bus ride and playing that caliber of a team and play as well as we did? You have to shake of the jitters in the first half. Second half? You rely on your seniors. We have 18. I’ve jokingly said I’d name my kids after them. They are the best.”
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The Generals, who entered having allowed 69 points, had held eight of their 10 opponents to seven points or less.
Said Culver: “Our defense is the heart of the team.”
Bellbrook graduates 20 seniors whose career ended with a 10-0 regular season, a Southwestern Buckeye League title, a No. 2 state ranking and a home playoff game.
“These seniors will go down as one of the greatest classes to go through Bellbrook,” Jenkins said. “Class act. I love those guys.”
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Northmont 42, Hilliard Darby 20: Senior quarterback Miles Johnson went 20-for-23 for 318 yards and three TDs in a D-I, Region 3 quarterfinal at Clayton. The second-seeded Thunderbolts (10-1) will play defending state champ Pickerington Central (9-2) in a Region 3 semifinal. The Tigers beat Hilliard Bradley 14-13 in a quarterfinal game.
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The Thunderbolts led 21-14 at the half and third-quarter TD passes from Johnson to Drake Hickman and Jazz Keys put the game out of reach. Hickman caught seven passes for 118 yards and two scores. Keys caught five passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. Northmont’s Michael Franklin rushed for 96 yards and two TDs for the
Troy 48, Harrison 7: Senior Jaydon Culp-Bishop rushed 31 times for 356 yards and six touchdowns — both Troy playoff records — as the Trojans advanced to the D-II, Region 8 semifinals.
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Culp-Bishop has 2,237 rushing yards, becoming the third player in Trojans’ history to break the 2,000-yards in a single season. (Troy (10-1) will play Anderson (9-2), which beat Kings 42-35.
Badin 33, Butler 22: Badin scored 20 points in the second half to advance to the D-III, Region 12 semifinals.
The Aviators took a 16-13 lead on Mason Motter’s 17-yard TD run in the third quarter. Ryan Martin rushed for 113 yards and a TD for Butler (6-5). Motter had 70 yards rushing and two scores.
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Wapakoneta 24, Trotwood-Madison 21: Luke Beach's 31-yard field goal with 4:56 remaining lifted the host Redskins to the D-III, Region 12 semifinals. The Rams led 21-14 at the end of the third quarter. Trotwood (6-5) had eliminated Wapakoneta in four of its last five playoff appearances. Trotwood won the D-III state championship last season.
Fenwick 28, Chaminade-Julienne 7: The Falcons (9-2) led 21-0 at the half and cruised into the D-III, Region 12 semifinals against Wapakoneta. CJ finished 7-4.
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Marion Local 55, Spencerville 7: Nolan Habodasz had three rushing TDs and Nate Bruns threw for three scores as the host Flyers (10-1) posted a D-VI, Region 24 quarterfinal victory. Marion Local will play Lima Central Catholic, a 40-18 winner over Covington, the next round.
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Coldwater 49, Cin. Deer Park 14: The Cavaliers (9-2) led 35-0 at halftime in a D-VI, Region 24 rout. Coldwater will play Midwest Athletic Conference rival St. Henry next. The Redskins, who beat host Mechanicsburg 37-7, defeated the Cavaliers 28-7 in Week 8.
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