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Upper Sandusky Rams
vs.Bellevue Redmen
By Redmen_Jacks
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Redmen Run Wild On The Rams, 36-29.
Northern Ohio League Championship #23
October 23, 2004
Bellevue, Ohio- On a memorable Senior Night, the Redmen received strong rushing performances from Senior RB Greg Keys and Senior QB Jon Journay to outlast the previously unbeaten Upper Sandusky Rams, 36-29. The victory enabled Bellevue to clinch a share of Northern Ohio League championship #23 in its fine history, and inched the Redmen closer to a first round home playoff berth.
Each team's offense has made a habit of lighting the scoreboards this season, especially the big-play variety, and this evening was no exception. However, on Bellevue's second offensive series, it used a methodical 11 play, 64-yard time-consuming drive to score its first touchdown. All the plays were via the Keys-Journay tag-team rushing attack climaxed by the latter's 1 yard keeper at 1:53 1st Quarter. Journay's two-point conversion pass to Senior SE Jarrid Breyman was true, and the Redmen led 8-0.
After the Redmen forced Upper to a three and out, Bellevue again used the services of Keys and Journay on a 10-play drive to the Upper 8. Upper's defense rose to the challenge, and escaped further damage as it stopped Journay a yard short of the first down, and claimed turnover on downs at the 8.
Upper's still struggled to get the machine rolling, and was forced to punt after four plays. It did not take long for sprint star Keys to show off his homerun capability as he took a Journay handoff and bursted down the Upper sidelines for an electrifying 42 yard score. The two-point conversion failed, and 4:17 2nd Quarter, Bellevue increased its lead to 14-0.
As the Redmen faithful were still celebrating the two touchdown cushion, Upper's big-play potential surfaced 18 seconds later as Senior QB Greg Micheli rolled right, spun left, pump faked, and hit a wide-open Brock England for a 67 yard score. Nate Bair's PAT was successful, and Bellevue's disadvantage shrunk to 14-7.
The Keys- Journay ground game answered the bell using a 12 play, 67 yard drive to chew up most of the second quarter clock, but more importantly, keeping the always dangerous Micheli-led Upper offense off the field. The drive was climaxed by a 3 yard Keys rush to the endzone, and coupled with a second successful Journay toss to Breyman on the two-point conversion, Bellevue increased the lead to 22-7 35 seconds before the half.
Bellevue's first offensive series in the second half was masterful at eating up the clock, and again aiming to keep the Upper offense on the sidelines. The 11 play, 75-yard drive ended on a third Keys trip to the endzone via a 5 yard run. The critical play on the drive was a 4th down conversion by Journay, whose forward progress enabled him the first down, much to the disappointment from the Upper faithful. For the third time, the Journay-Breyman connection struck gold on the two-point conversion, and 4:21 3rd quarter, Bellevue had a commanding 30-7 cushion.
The highly advertised Upper offense wasted no time in cutting the lead in half. The timely passing of Micheli-Greg Kimmel combination, and Micheli's athletic ability to scramble paid off via a QB keeper from the Bellevue 1. Micheli hooked up with Kimmel on the two-point conversion, and just two minutes later, it was 30-15 in favor of the Redmen.
Bellevue quickly answered Upper's score as it started with excellent field position on its 41. Coupled with Keys strong running, and a late-hit personal foul penalty on the Rams, Journay climaxed the drive by calling his number on a 10-yard keeper. The two-point conversion failed, and 0:53 3rd quarter, Bellevue held a comfortable 36-15 advantage.
Upper's next offensive series was an effective 14 play, 75-yard march for its score. Micheli repeatedly hit favorite targets Kimmel and England, and a personal foul late-hit penalty by the Redmen aided the drive. Micheli made a critical 4th down play, as he rushed in from 3 yards for the score. The score did come with a cost as Upper expired its final two timeouts preparing for the 4th down play. Bair's PAT was true, and 9:47 4th quarter; Bellevue's lead slimmed to 36-22.
Bellevue's high-powered offense slowed down on its next series, and was forced to punt. Upper again relied on Micheli's left arm as he continued to hit Kimmel, and relied on #13's scrambling ability as the 11 play, 59 yard drive was finalized by his 1 yard keeper. However, the signal caller had to take 3 cracks from the Bellevue 1, as the Redmen 'D' rose to the occasion to eliminate critical time off the clock. Bair's PAT was good, and with 2:20 left showing on the clock, the margin was the closest at 36-29.
Bellevue's last drive was aided by Upper miscues to enable to run out the clock. The Rams continuously lined up in the neutral zone and were also hit with a sideline personal foul. Journay took a knee on the game's final play to preserve the 36-29 Redmen victory.
Bellevue (8-1, 6-0 NOL) will aim to clinch its first outright league championship since 1994 when it travels to Norwalk's Whitney Field, and take on the Truckers (5-4, 3-3 NOL), while the Rams again take the road, and meet with the Tiffin Columbian Tornadoes (7-2, 5-1 NOL) at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
