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BELLBROOK, OHIO -- The season continues.
St. Marys improbable march to the playoffs takes another step forward as the Roughriders hung on to beat the Bellbrook Golden Eagles Friday night at Bellbrook.
It wasn't easy for the young Roughriders, who lost two seniors to suspension prior to the game, and had as many as 11 sophomores in key roles.
The win sets up a Chicken Bowl rematch with Urbana next Saturday night at a neutral location, which will be announced Sunday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Urbana beat the Riders 26-7 in the annual pre-season tune-up game. The Hillclimbers are the top-seeded team in Region 12, and improved to a perfect 11-0 with 19-9 win over St. Paris Graham.
St. Marys got the early lead thanks to some Bellbrook miscues.
The Eagles initial possession stalled after three plays, forcing a punt. The snap went over Jack O'Dell's head giving the Roughriders great field position at the Bellbrook 39.
Four plays later, Justin Nagel broke free from 28 yards out to put the Riders on the board. Nick Pfeffenberger added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 8:37 left in the first quarter.
Bellbrook turned the ball over two more times in the first quarter, once on an interception by Adam Chiles and again with a fumble near midfield.
However, both times the Rider "O" was unable to capitalize, going three-and-out.
Brant Huttis returned a punt to the Eagle 45 at the end of the first quarter. The Riders used the short field to their advantage, driving 45 yards in eight plays.
Corey Vossler covered the final two yards on a sneak, and Pfeffenberger booted the PAT for a 14-0 lead with 8:51 left in the half.
Bellbrook's lone offensive spark of the first half came on its very next play from scrimmage. Jack O'Dell called his own number on a sneak and found the middle of the field wide open.
O'Dell raced 62 yards to cut St. Marys' lead to 14-6 with 8:33 left. The PAT kick failed.
The big play did not rattle the Riders, who responded with a huge 84-yard, 14-play drive that ate up much of the second quarter clock.
Shawn Craft covered the final 25 yards on the drive with a trap play to paydirt. Pfeffenberger's PAT attempt was no good, and the Riders held a 20-6 halftime lead.
St. Marys appeared to have a chance to deliver a knockout blow to start the third quarter. Nick Yahl returned the second half kickoff all the way to the Bellbrook 17.
However, the Riders couldn't move the ball, and ended up turning it over on downs.
At this point, O'Dell pretty much took over. He carried the ball five times on the Eagles' 90-yard drive, gaining over 70 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown run. Not quite worn out from the run, O'Dell kicked the extra point to make the score 20-13 with 6:32 left in the third.
Again, the Riders responded with an excellent kickoff return, as Nagel returned all the way to the Eagle 30.
The Riders again appeared to be going nowhere, but on a third-and-18, Nagel broke free for a gain of 22 and a first down, one of just two second-half first downs by St. Marys.
A late-hit penalty moved the ball inside the 10, where Craft and Vossler took turns with Vossler sneaking over from a yard out.
St. Marys elected to go for just one point but the snap to the holder was high and the kick never got off the ground.
The Eagles returned the kick inside St. Marys territory, and O'Dell went right back to work. A five-play drive ended with an O'Dell 14-yard run for another touchdown. Again, O'Dell booted the PAT, pulling the Eagles to within six points with 1:42 left in the third.
With the offense going nowhere, it would be up to the St. Marys "D" in the fourth quarter. And like they have all season, the Riders stepped up.
St. Marys was three-plays and a punt on three straight fourth quarter possessions. The Roughrider defense forced a punt, came up with an interception and forced another punt with four minutes left to play.
An eight-yard gain by Nagel and a three-yard gain by Craft gave St. Marys its second first down of the half. Bellbrook then stopped the Riders on three straight plays, but used up all three of its timeouts in the process.
With 2:39 left in the game, Matt Helmstetter launched a clutch 51-yard punt that O'Dell scooped up inside the Bellbrook 10 and returned to the 11.
O'Dell carried seven straight times, mostly rollouts to the sidelines to stop the clock. He moved the ball from the 11 to the 43, before handing off to Chris Iacovone on third-and six.
Iacovone was stuffed inbounds, and the Eagles had to scramble to the line of scrimmage on fourth down. O'Dell rolled out, but was forced out of bounds three yards short of a first down.
Vossler needed to take a knee just once to preserve the win.
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