Bellevue goes to air, routs Galion 40-9

BELLEVUE — Bellevue's quarterback threw 13 passes and didn't run the football once. Not a misprint. Ashton Martin, who started the season as Bellevue's third-string quarterback, got the start in Friday's Division IV playoff opener and responded by completing six of 13 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-9 drubbing of Galion. Martin started for Jax LaPata, who is out with a knee injury. LaPata took over early in the season for returning starter Deegan Horn, who is out with hamstring issues. Two running quarterbacks were not an option as the postseason began. What do they say about next man up? "For all we've been through, I mean, how many teams in the area could come into a playoff game with their third-string quarterback and feel good about it?" Bellevue coach Ed Nasonti said. "I thought Ash did a great job for his first start. We were able to put together some nice drives and play good enough defense." Bellevue had six plays cover more than 20 yards and the Redmen defense bottled up Galion star running back Gabe Ivy, who gained 82 yards on 21 carries and was limited to 1 yard or fewer on 11 attempts. Martin's first completion might have been the most important of the game. On second-and-11 from the Bellevue 33-yard line with Galion leading 3-0 midway through the first quarter, Martin connected with Brody Horn on a wheel route. Horn made a great catch and ran 64 yards to the Galion 3 and Seth Bova scored on the next play. "I came out nervous; I'm the third-string quarterback," said Martin. "But I had to complete one to get my confidence going and then I felt pretty comfortable. "That really was not a catchable ball, to be honest. (Horn) made a play and got the extra yards. It felt good. It was kind of something stressing on my shoulders. I just had to settle down." More big plays followed. Bellevue ran a flea-flicker that gained 68 yards in the second quarter. It was Tyler Ray's first of three catches that totaled 160 yards. Ray was caught at the 1-yard line and Horn scored a play later to give Bellevue a 14-3 lead. Bellevue increased its lead to 20-3 when Martin found a wide-open Ray down the right sideline for a 52-yard score 3:50 before halftime. "I shouldn't have been that open; Ashton threw me open," Ray said. "That was an absolute laser and I had room to run. "Galion loaded the box so we knew we were gonna be able to take shots on them. Ash looked really comfortable in the pocket and he was delivering dimes." All of Martin's passing yardage came in the first three quarters. "The passing game kind of loosened up the box a little bit," Nasonti said. "I think we caught them in a quandary where they wanted to stop the run but didn't want to get 1-on-1 one with Ty." After Ivy's only big run of the night — a 42-yard touchdown sprint — got Galion (6-5) to within 20-9 in the third quarter, Martin connected with his brother Jackson on a back-shoulder play on fourth-and-6 from the Galion 13 to make it 26-9. With the passing game producing chunk plays, the Redmen (7-4) turned to the run to put the playoff win on ice. Horn had a 23-yard touchdown run and Bova capped the scoring with a 51-yard scoring sprint that kicked in the running clock. Horn, a physical, slippery sophomore, finishing with 113 yards on 21 carries. Bellevue had 411 total yards and held Galion to 286. "I got a lot of reps. It feels good to see what I'm seeing in practice and implement it in a game," said Ashton Martin. "The amount of adversity we've fought this year is close to none. With all the injuries, we've just stuck together. Winning this playoff game together feels great. It was a team win." The Redmen, who will play top-seeded Glenville in the second round, played without several front-line players, including LaPata, who was on crutches with a knee injury. Among the other Bellevue standouts who did not play were Cole Beltran, Dylan Barger and Horn. Late in the game, Ray had a chance to intercept a deep fourth-down pass but backed off to give Bellevue better field position. It was a selfless play that his teammates and coaches appreciated. "It was fourth down," said Ray. "If I would've caught it and been tackled we would've been pinned close to our end zone." Moment of silence Prior to the playing of the national anthem, a moment of silence was held in honor of Stefanie Rich, the wife of Bellevue boys basketball coach Ed Rich. Stefanie, who was a nurse, died Thursday at the age of 40 after a long battle with cancer. Ed and Stefanie had two children: Addison, 12, and Eddison, 10. Stefanie and Ed were married for 14 years. Prior to moving to Bellevue, they lived in Galion, which was Friday's football opponent. A memorial fund for the family was created on GoFundMe.com by Cynthia Raifsnider. "She and her husband Ed were married for 14 years. For nearly a decade of that period, they committed their lives to her seemingly endless fight against the illness and to their family. The years of traveling to Columbus or Toledo, often by emergency vehicle or helicopter, left the family with excessive medical bills," the site says. "The friends and family of Ed, Stef, Addi and "Bub" are now asking for the aid of the communities that Ed (teacher, coach) and Stef (nurse) helped for many years. Please support The Rich Family with any financial contribution that you can afford and send them your love." Galion 3 0 6 0 — 9Bellevue 8 12 6 14 — 40 G — Jackson Hart 32 field goal B — Seth Bova 3 run (Jackson Martin pass from Ashton Martin) B — Brody Horn 1 run (pass failed) B — Tyler Ray 52 pass from A. Martin (pass failed) G — Gabe Ivy 42 run (kick blocked) B — J. Martin 13 pass from A. Martin (pass failed) B — Horn 23 run (J. Martin pass from A. Martin) B — Bova 51 run (pass failed)