Redmen Set Cruise Control in Rout of Marshall August 31st 2002 By Sportscaster17

  BELLEVUE, OH - It was a fall-like atmosphere at BAF Stadium Friday night, and the Redmen played like a team ready for a deep run into the fall months. In front of a large but relaxed home-opener crowd, the Redmen welcomed Cleveland John Marshall and promptly delivered a 56-0 loss verdict to the Lawyers.

  At times, the Redmen offense and defense looked sharp, and for the second straight week, the attack featured multiple special teams scores as well. The hosts built a comfortable 43-0 lead at halftime, and tallied the final 13 points of the contest in the third quarter en route to the victory. The 2-0 start for the Redmen marks the first time Bellevue has started 2-0 since 1999. And perhaps more importantly, Friday night’s win gave everyone a chance to get primed for a brutal four game stretch beginning next week with Clyde, a 34-15 winner over Tiffin Columbian.

  The Redmen took the opening kickoff right into Marshall territory, and on fourth and goal, sophomore quarterback Jon Journay lofted a pass in the direction of junior Matt Lepley. The Lawyer safety was all over Lepley, who caught the pass anyway. A pass interference call was refused and Mike Snyder made the first of five extra points, and Bellevue had a rapid 7-0 lead.

  The highly-touted Redmen defense rose to the occasion early and often, giving the ball right back to the offense, and to perhaps foreshadow personnel moves to come, Matt Lepley was sent in at quarterback and scored immediately on a draw play. Snyder socked the PAT and Bellevue took a 14-0 jump on John Marshall.

  Once again, the defense was quick to respond, forcing it’s second straight three-and-out. Following a long pass play to senior Benjamin Snyder, 215-pound junior fullback Aaron Decker blasted through the middle of the Lawyer line from 2 yards away, and Mike Snyder’s foot help give the Redmen a 21-0 lead at the end of one quarter.

  The Redmen defense then forced a Lawyer fumble, and Bellevue took over at the Marshall 26. Jon Journay then calmly rifled his second touchdown pass on the evening, this one going to the senior co-captain Snyder. The point try was true and Bellevue had turned the home opener into a laugher, now leading 28-0.

  With just under five minutes to play, it appeared as if some of the inexperience for the Redmen on offense caught up with them as Decker coughed the ball up on the John Marshall 3 yard line. However, it almost looked like a textbook play call, as the swarming Redmen defense turned a turnover into a safety for a 30-0 lead.

  Following the safety, Matt Lepley sought to return the forthcoming free kick deep into Lawyer territory. What he got instead was a 52-yard kickoff return for his third touchdown on the night. An unsportsmanlike foul ensued moving the point try back to the 17-yard line where the Redmen opted to attempt a two-point conversion. It failed, and the scoreboard read Bellevue 36, John Marshall 0.

  With 1:41 remaining in a long first half, Snyder caught his second touchdown pass on the night, this one of 15 yards, and Mike Snyder added yet another point to make it 43-0 Redmen. That’s the way it would remain through the intermission.

  Bellevue dented the scoreboard yet again with 9:39 remaining in the third. The score occurred when the quickly becoming famous Matt Lepley returned his second kick for a touchdown, this one coming on a punt, and Lepley galloped 53 yards to paydirt. Snyder added his final extra point, and Bellevue had eclipsed the half-century mark, now enjoying a 50-0 advantage.

  The first bright spot of the game for the Lawyers came with 9:39 left in the third quarter when the chains were moved for the first time following a pass interference call by the obviously bored game officials. Nonetheless, the call didn’t help Marshall, and they were forced to give the ball up again.

  Junior tailback Shane Hamer joined in the scoring party later in the third quarter, as he slipped in the endzone from six yards out. Snyder finally missed a kick, and the Redmen had capped the fine offensive evening with a 56-0 lead.

  Most of the dressed players were able to see playing time in the late stages of the ballgame, and many Redmen fans began to depart after learning of Clyde’s two-touchdown lead against Tiffin Columbian.

  So the stage is set. For the first time since 1995, both Clyde and Bellevue will enter their annual grudge match with perfect 2-0 records. Has the rivalry been renewed? A better question is, who is Bellevue’s biggest rival, and does it matter. Beginning with the showdown with the Fliers next week, Bellevue will be playing its three biggest football rivals in succession. A week four date in Willard followed by a home dance with Tiffin Columbian awaits the Redmen after the dual with Clyde.