Lightning Strikes; Redmen Prevail 21-14 victory ends 3 game skid at BAF vs. Willard September 27th 2003 By Sportscaster17

   BELLEVUE, OH - Late in the fourth period, storm clouds and lightning surrounded the friendly confines of Bellevue Athletic Field. However, in contrast to 1999 and 2001, it was the home team storming by the visitors. In front of a laid-back crowd of 3,110, the Bellevue Redmen earned their first victory at BAF stadium over the Willard Crimson Flashes since 1997, 21-14.

  The game was just the type WHS Head Coach Chris Hawkins dreamt of the night before. Minimal offense and defenses making big plays. But in the end, it was two key plays which sealed the Flashes' fate. A 75-yard punt return and a long 47-yard passing strike were the two biggest plays of the game, and arguably of Bellevue's season.

  The Redmen looked as if they would make an early statement, taking the opening kickoff inside the Willard 15. Well-executed screen passes and solid rushing accounted for the trip to the Flashes' red zone. However, the sound Willard defense rose again, stopping the Redmen on a fourth down play.

  As they had done all season, the Flashes capitalized on its defense's solid play. Chewing up a bunch of the first period, the Flashes covered 86 yards in 15 plays to dent the stadium scoreboard first. The scoring play was a nifty screen pass from Jeff Willoughby to Brandon Oney from the Bellevue eight yard line. The try was good and Willard had a big first lead 7-0.

  The Flashes' defense continued its great play on Bellevue's next series, and although the Redmen collected a first down, they were forced to punt. Greg Keys unleashed a bomb, and Willard was met with very poor field position-something they would see more than once.

  Unable to collect a first down, Willard was also forced to punt it away. Bellevue was met with a short field, but its offensive attack once again ineffective and the Redmen were punting again. And fans in the western stands couldn't help but feel a little sense of deja-vu.

  Back on the field, the frustration was mounting. Redmen coaches and players began to protest many of the officiating crew's decisions. Finally, Bellevue caught a break. After a Willard punt, Brian Palsa slipped down the Redmen sideline 75 yards to the Willard 3. Two plays later, Greg Keys slid across the goal line to put Bellevue on the board. On the try, the Flashes found themselves offside. This prompted the Redmen coaches to try the two-point conversion. It failed and Willard had dodged another bullet, still leading 7-6.

  With time in the first half slipping away, Jeff Willoughby threw an interception and Bellevue's confidence began to increase. This would be further evident on the very next play. Quarterback Jon Journay laid out a beautiful pass to wide out Matt Lepley who caught the ball in stride for a 47-yard pickup. Bellevue then set up the patented fade route, which Cody Koselke finished, and the Redmen had a 12-7 advantage. Keys added the critical two-point try, and with just 29 seconds to the half, Bellevue found itself leading 14-7.

  After the touchdown, one of the more interesting series of events in recent memory took place. The drama began when place-kicker Mike Snyder yanked his kickoff out of bounds. Operating from its own 35, Jeff Willoughby threw what appeared to be an awfully thrown incompletion to Brandon Oney. The Redmen defense froze on the incompletion, and Oney calmly picked the pass off the ground, and threw a 57-yard missile to Bret Kessler. The touchdown energized the Flashes' fans and the game entered halftime deadlocked at 14-14. It was the fourth time in the 2003 season a Bellevue game was tied at intermission.

  In the go-ahead drive, Lepley snared a pair of 19-yard passes and then added what would ultimately be the winning score as he broke through for a 10-yard jaunt. Snyder added the point, and the score was 21-14.

  The biggest drive of the game was Bellevue's most impressive of the season. After Palsa struck gold by knocking a sure touchdown pass away from the Willard receiver, the Redmen dominated the fourth period and drained all of the clock and the Flashes' timeouts.

  Bellevue had won its first game against Willard at BAF Stadium since 1997, and coupled with Columbian's 35-0 dusting of Galion, a second showdown stage is set: This time at Tiffin's Frost-Kalnow Stadium. Both the Redmen and Cyclones are perfect in league play, as Friday's game winner is likely to be staying at home for a Wild Card Playoff game.