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(Div. III Reg. 10)


Photos by Andrews Photography

Click for Larger Image

by ridertown.com

BELLEVUE, OHIO - You could point to nine penalties, a few costly turnovers, or Stephen Kill's third quarter injury, but in the end it came down to the Roughriders' inability to stop the obvious -- Jeff Polley to Pete Lepely.

Lepley set an Ohio High School record for receiving yards this season with over 1,700 yards, while Polley had passed for over 2,200 yards this season.

It was obvious what the Redmen were going to do, and the Riders were simply unable to stop them. Polley threw for 300 yards, while Lepley caught three touchdown passes as Bellevue chalked up a 35-28 come-from-behind victory in the first round of the Division III Region 10 Playoffs Friday at Bellevue.

The Redmen offense overshadowed a brilliant night by the Rider "O" which was not stopped all night, rushing for over 300 yards, including 198 by junior Nathan Homan,, and 146 by junior Stephen Kill, before being forced from the game with an injury on the last play of the third quarter.

The Rider defense was unable to put any real pressure on Polley, who connected on 21 of 32 passes, 15 of which, (for over 200 yards) went to Lepley.

The Redmen took the opening kick, and marched down the field, mixing the run and pass well to take a 7-0 lead. Aaron Shane carried the ball five time for 39 yards on the drive, including the final five. Polley added the extra point with 8:51 left in the opening period.

The Riders countered in equally impressive fashion, marching 58 yards, and overcoming two penalties to tie the score with 4:35 left in the quarter. Homan went the final 10 yards for the first of his three touchdowns on the night, while Dusty Dircksen added the first of his four PAT boots.

Bellevue's next possession resulted in one of just two punts in the game -- both by the Redmen.

St. Marys picked up where they left off on their first possession; running at will, gaining 58 yards on 13 plays. The Riders moved inside the Bellevue 10, but an illegal procedure penalty on fourth-and-one led to an incomplete pass that turned the ball over on downs.

The Redmen also appeared poised to score on their next possession, moving deep into St. Marys territory before Tyler Slone intercepted a Polley pass in the Rider end zone to give the ball back to the St. Marys offense.

Homan wasted little time in converting the turnover into six points. On the third play of the drive he broke loose on a 74-yard sweep to give the Riders their first lead of the game with 4:39 left in the half.

Perhaps the most frustrating drive for the St. Marys defense followed. The Riders appeared to have the Redmen bottled up several times, but Polley completed a 28-yard pass to Lepley on third-and-25; a 19-yard pass to Lepley on third-and-18; and a 23-yard pass to Lepley on fourth-and-20. Lepley finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception.

The Riders took the upper hand in the second half, as Homan scored on a 35-yard run on the Riders' initial drive.

Bellevue answered when Polley tossed a nine-yard pass to J.J. Foos to knot the score with 6:20 left in the third quarter.

Again St. Marys was poised to regain the lead in the seesaw battle, driving inside the Bellevue five-yard line. However, Homan fumbled at the three-yard line and the Redmen took over.

But for the second time, the Riders were able to force a Bellevue punt, and St. Marys took over on their own 43 yard line.

It took St. Marys just five plays to score from there. The big play was a 30-yard run by Kill to the Bellevue three yard line. However, Kill came up injured on the play and had to leave the game.

Sampson went the final two yard on a sneak for a 28-21 lead with 11:20 left in the game.

But Bellevue was not to be denied. The Redmen march 68 yards in 12 plays to tie the score again. Lepley scored on a 16 yard reception with 7:34 to play.

St. Marys' offense did not seem the same without Kill. Unable to pick up a first down, Sampson was intercepted at midfield .

On Bellevue's first play, Polley hit Lepley for a 34-yard gain to the St. Marys 13. From there the Riders stiffened momentarily, forcing a fourth down-and-four at the seven. Polley then called on Lepley who found himself open in the end zone to give the Redmen their first lead since the first quarter.

With over 5 minutes left, St. Marys had a chance to tie the game, but after picking up a few first downs the drive ran out of gas. On fourth-and-seven from the Bellevue 35, Homan and Tyler Slone collided in the backfield, turning the ball over on downs to the Redmen, who were able to run the clock out.

Bellevue advances to round two to play Van Wert. The Cougars knocked off top-seeded Sunbury Big Walnut Saturday to advance to the next round.

Photos ©2000 Andrews Photography.

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