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Bellevue, OH - At Bellevue Athletic Field Friday night, in front of an announced crowd of 5,016 the (9-1) Bellevue Redmen hoped to cage the (7-3) Kenton Wildcats in the opening round of the 2003 playoffs. Kenton who had won the States Division IV title the past two seasons had 3 boys over the limit this year bumping them up to Division III. The Kenton offense set the stage for a shootout Friday night as they surpassed 550 yards of total offense and more than 450 through the air. Poor field position doomed the Redmen defense early, as Kenton's average start on their first three possessions was the Bellevue 42 yard-line. A punt and a fumble recovery by senior Shane Hamer on the Redmen 3 yard-line stalled the Kenton drives but the Bellevue offense could not take advantage. Faced with 4th and 11 on their own 2, junior Greg Keys was forced to punt from deep in his own end zone. Kenton senior Billy Cozad who had an amazing night returned the punt to the Redmen 20. Senior quarterback D.J. Underwood scored on a keeper up the middle from six yards out to cap the 4-play drive. Rob Snowden's PAT was good and Kenton had a 7-0 lead with 57 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. On the Redmen's third offensive series they picked up their second first down of the game when junior quarterback Jon Journay hit senior co-captain Jordon Berberick for an 18-yard reception. Three plays later the Redmen were again forced to punt. Keys nailed the punt 58 yards into the end-zone setting up the Wildcats on their own 20. One play is all it took to quite the Redmen crowd as blown coverage on Kenton wide-out Tommy Pettit resulted in an 80-yard touchdown reception. Snowden again tacked on the extra point, as the Wildcat lead grew to 14-0 at the 10:51 mark in the second quarter. The Wildcats next possession was much like the previous two as a 5 play 79-yard drive highlighted by a 22-yard scoring toss to senior Nick Auger at the 5:31 mark, as it was now 21-0 in favor of the visitors. The Redmen offense came back with a trio of big plays for their first visit to the end zone. A 19-yard reception by junior Cody Koselke, a 13-yard reception by senior co-captain Matt Lepley and a 21-yard scamper by junior tailback Greg Keys highlighted a 5 play 47-yard drive that resulted in a Jon Journay touchdown run from 1-yard out. Mike Snyder came on and nailed the extra point to trim the Wildcat lead to 21-7 with 3:54 remaining in the half. Kenton's next offensive series began at their own 20 after the Snyder kick went into the end-zone. The Wildcats used only 2:54 and 7 plays to cover 80 yards as Billy Cozad scored on a 33 yard scoring strike from Underwood. It was Zach Johnson's first down pickup on 4th and 1 from their own 29 that kept the drive alive. The PAT was good and with 1:50 in the half Kenton led 28-7. The Bellevue offense quickly went to their two-minute offense and to the arm of Journay. 8 plays and 65 yards later it was Koselke scoring on a 9-yard toss with 13 seconds remaining in the opening half. Snyder's extra point attempt was blocked and the Redmen inched closer as the half came to an end at 28-13 Kenton. The Wildcats received the kick to begin the second half and took over on their own 30-yardline. Two plays later senior co-captain Aaron Decker leaped from his defensive-end position to intercept the Underwood pass and raced 20-yards for the defensive score. The 2-point conversion fell incomplete but with 11:24 on the clock in the third the Redmen had cut the lead to nine at 28-19. The offense for Kenton simply could not be stopped this night as a 5 play; 70 yard drive resulted in another Wildcat touchdown with Billy Cozad being on the receiving end of a 19-yard scoring strike. The 2-point conversion was good and it was 36-19 in favor of the Wildcats with 9:54 in the third quarter. Bellevue again would refuse to give up going 77 yards on 3 plays for another score. After a 12-yard reception by Jordon Berberick at the Redmen 37 it was Greg Keys who raced 63 yards down the Bellevue sidelines for the Redmen touchdown. Koselke hauled in the 2-point conversion and the Kenton lead again was cut to nine at 36-27 with 8:25 remaining in the third. Unfortunately for the Redmen, that is how their scoring would end and their season. The Wildcats added another touchdown on an 11 play 76-yard drive and a 22-yard field goal by Snowden to round out the scoring and a 46-27 Kenton win. |
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