Shelby too much for Bellevue

SHELBY - Bellevue and Shelby met Friday night for the 73rd and final time as members of the Northern Ohio League, and this one was as good as any in this series.

Shelby’s potent offense was too much for the Redmen as Shelby came away with a huge win, 49-34, at Shelby. It was the Whippets’ first win over Bellevue since 2010.

The Whippets piled up almost 600 yards of total offense, led by quarterback Brennan Armstrong and running back Devon Brooks, and improved to 8-1 on the year and 5-1 in the NOL. They also took a big step toward hosting a playoff game in week 11. Bellevue falls to 6-3 overall amd 3-2 in the NOL. Sandusky clinched at least a share of the NOL title with a 36-6 win over Ontario.

Under coach Ed Nasonti, Bellevue has won 20 of the last 26 games versus Shelby and holds a 37-33-2 advantage in the series.

After 73 years, the NOL is dissolving at the end of the current school year. Next year, both teams will be in the Sandusky Bay Conference’s 21-school, three-division league. The NOL was started back in 1944 with original members Crestline, Bucyrus, Galion, Norwalk, Upper Sandusky and Willard joining Shelby and Bellevue. The Redmen have won 24 league championships and Shelby has won 20. Sandusky joined the NOL in 2011 and is in line to win its second-championship this year. Ontario joined the NOL in 2013.

A home playoff game in week 11 was on the line. Shelby came into the clash with Bellevue sitting in 4th-place in Division 4, Region 15 in the OHSAA computer ratings with 15.5375 points. Bellevue sits in 4th-place in Division 4, Region 14 with 13.375 points. Eight teams in each region make the playoffs and the top four teams in each region hosts a playoff game. Bellevue made it all the way to the regional finals last year before losing to eventual state champion Columbus Bishop Hartley, 28-20.

Brooks rushed for 294 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns. Armstrong gained 182 yards rushing on 21 carries and two touchdowns and completed 7 of 11 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

With both teams averaging over 40 points a game, the first quarter was a high-scoring shootout. On Shelby’s first possession, the Whippets took just five plays to cover 61 yards. Armstrong scored on a 4-yard run and Shelby led, 7-0. Bellevue came right back and drove 65 yards in 7 plays with Bryce Ray running 2-yards for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion run was stopped and the Redmen were within 7-6.

Brooks scored on Shelby’s next play on offense by racing 65 yards for the touchdown and just 20 seconds after the Bellevue score it was Shelby 14-6.

Bellevue again answere with a 65-yard, 7-play drive capped by a 34-yard TD pass from Alec Foos to Joe Vogel. Foos passed for the 2-point conversion to Dakota McPeak and the score was 14-14 with 3:08 left in the first quarter.

That score stood until Brooks took off on a 67-yard touchdown run to boost the Whippet lead to 21-14 with 10:40 to play in the second quarter.

Bellevue had an 11-play drive stopped on fourth-and 8 at the Whippet 17-yard line. Shelby took over on downs and the first play was a bad snap over Armstrong’s head that the Shelby quarterback recovered at the 4-yard line. But Brooks broke loose again. He took off on a 54-yard run that got the Whippets out of the hole. That drive ended with a missed field goal with 9 seconds left in the first-half. Shelby led, 21-14 at the half and Brooks had 201 yards rushing in the first half.

The offenses were just as good in the second-half. Armstrong threw a 9-yard TD pass to Hunter Egner on Shelby’s first drive of the third quarter to take a 28-14 lead. Bellevue answered again with a 9-yard TD run by Ray with 7:02 to play in the third and the lead was down to 28-20.

Brooks raced in to the end zone from 33 yards out two minutes later to put the lead back up to 35-20. But Bellevue took just seven plays to cut back into the lead. Foos blasted in from a yard away at the 2:11 mark and the lead stood at 35-26. The Redmen attempted an on-side kick but Shelby fell on the ball and it took the Whippets five plays to strike again. Armstrong threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Egner and the lead swelled to 42-26 with 2:19 to go in the third quarter.

Bellevue scored again on the sixth play of the fourth quarter, Foos threw 5-yards to Ben Smith, then passed for the 2-point conversion to Tresto Francis to close to 42-34 with 9:51 to play in the game.

Six plays later, Armstrong capped the scoring with a 24-yard TD run to put the Whippets in command at 49-34. Bellevue had onelast chance, getting down to the Shelby 25-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs and Shelby ran out the clock.

Foos led Bellevue in rushing, gaining 110 yards on 24 carries and he pass 33 times, completing 19 for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Smith caught five passes for 32 yards and a score and Francis had five catches for 41 yards.

For Shelby, Egner caught four passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

Shelby has one non-league game remaining in week 10 when winless Loudonville comes to town. Bellevue’s remaining game will be its final NOL game when Ontario (4-5) travels to Bellevue.