Redmen Escape Lima Sr. ,14-12 September 28th 2002 By XBellevueplayar

  Lima, OH - The Bellevue Redmen played a rare non-league game Friday night for this late in the season as they traveled to Lima to take on Division 1 Lima Senior. The Spartan's of Lima came into the game with a 1-4 overall record and just 5 years removed from a Division 1 State Championship.

  Pre-game talk from area fan's and those fan's in the Lima area as well figured Bellevue would come away with a nice margin of victory. But the Spartan players would hear nothing of it as they played a tough hard fought game against the Redmen of Bellevue.

  The night was prefect for High School Football as the skies cleared and the sun shined just hours before kickoff in the Lima area.

  The Redmen's first offensive series ended quickly after they took the ball to the Spartan's 46 yardline. Shane Hamer came up with a Spartan fumble on the Redmen punt just inside the Spartan 25. Four plays later the Redmen turned the ball over on downs. Lima would start which would be a long but unsuccessful drive. Runningback Jamal Bowen would carry his Spartan teammates on his back rushing for 48 yards on the drive that led them all the way down to the Bellevue 14 yardline. The Redmen defense held on a fourth and nine call giving the offense the ball on there own 14. Failing to convert on third and five the Redmen elected to punt.

  After a three yard carry by Lima's Bowen the final seconds ticked off the clock to end the first quarter with no score. On the next play Sophomore Brian Palsa recovered a Lima fumble giving the Redmen excellent field possession on the Spartan 30 yardline. Bellevue would be unable to take advantage of the turnover as the Redmen fumbled on the Lima five and Junior Quovodis Dillingham came up with the fumble for Lima.

  The Spartan's were unable to move the ball as the stingy Redmen defense held forcing the Spartan's to punt from deep in their own territory.

  A 46 yard punt sailed through the air and into the awaiting arms of Junior Matt Lepley. Lepley who had already returned three punts for touchdowns this year used his blockers and speed to dash 55 yards for a Redmen touchdown. The Mike Snyder kick was good and the Redmen were on top 7-0 with 7:36 left in the half.

  Lima would go three and out on their following possession and the Redmen would field the Spartan punt on their own 30. With 5:44 left until half-time the Redmen appeared to be poised for another score before a Redmen fumble on the Spartan 12 yardline ended the drive. That was it for the scoring in the first half and the Redmen headed into the locker room with a 7-0 half-time lead.

  To open the second half of play Lima moved the ball down the field on a number of plays, but none bigger than a third and nine reception by Mark Develbiss that put the ball inside the Bellevue fifteen. On second and goal from the one Spartan quarterback James Henderson plunged into the endzone on the keeper to come within one. The fake extra point attempt was no good and the Redmen lead held at 7-6 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

  Bellevue would fumble for the third time in the game on the insueing kickoff giving Lima great field possession on the Bellevue forty-eight. The Redmen defense would again hold as the offense would take over on downs on their own forty-seven. Back to back receptions by Ben Snyder and Lepley as well as a number of rushing yards would bring the Redmen to the Lima 1 yardline. Lepley took the handoff and increased the Bellevue lead adding six to the board. The Mike Snyder kick was good and Bellevue's lead grew to 14-6 with 11:14 left in the game.

  The Spartan's would march right back down the field showing that they could throw the ball if they had too as Bruce Horrison picked up a huge first down on third and six. Jermane Marks added two long receptions with the second of the two coming on fourth and ten from the Bellevue 20. Marks sprinted down the sideline beating the Redmen defender and crossing the goal line for six. The 2 pt. conversion failed and with 7:08 left to play the Redmen was holding onto a 2 point lead at 14-12.

  Bellevue, who started their next possession on their own thirty-eight yardline saw Junior Shane Hamer (who was in for injured Derrick O'Lynn) ran off seven straight carries for 32 yards before the Redmen turned it over on downs at the Lima thirty.

  With 3:01 left to play the Spartan's made their final endeavor at taking a lead. The Redmen Defense who has been tough all year received a huge boost from Junior Jordon Berberick as he sacked Lima's quarterback for a 10 yard loss. The Spartan's still would not go away as the concerned Redmen fan's looked on with anxiety. A 27 yard reception by Marks put the ball on the Redmen 42 yardline. The following play moved the Spartan's even closer as the Redmen were called for roughing the passer. That would be as far as the Spartan's would get though as Bill Evert came up with a mammoth sack dropping Lima's quarterback for a 13 yard loss.

  After a fourth and long came up way short the Redmen took over on downs and ran off the final :22 seconds to finish with a nail biting 14-12 victory.

  Next up for the Redmen is League foe the Upper Sandusky Rams at BAF Stadium next Friday. Upper, despite a 26-20 loss to Willard Friday evening put up equal or better numbers than the Flashes and are still somewhat of an unknown against the Leagues top teams. The Rams come into next weeks game with a 5-1 overall record and a 1-1 League record as our Redmen come in 4-2 overall and a 0-2 League record.