Edison uses defense early, offense late to edge Bellevue

MILAN TWP. — Edison's defense dominated early. The Chargers' offense had the answers in the second half. The combination helped the Chargers turn back Bellevue 21-14 on Friday at Freedom Field in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division opener for both teams. "I'm very proud of the way our guys responded," Edison coach Jim Hall said. "We had to find ways; a true team effort. "A lot of guys contributed in a lot of different ways and that's what it took." It also took one final defensive exclamation point when senior defensive back Andy Strecker knocked down a deep fourth-down pass in the final minute to seal the victory. "In the end, we made enough good plays, especially the last one to knock it down," Hall said. The win pushed Edison's record to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division. Bellevue dropped to 3-3, 0-1. Edison played without standout running back/linebacker Bryson Wittmer, who will sit out the rest of the season with an injury to his right wrist. Bellevue played without its leading rusher and linebacker Evan Bova, who was on crutches and had his right foot in a walking boot. "I told our kids all week this was a championship game," Hall said. "Bellevue had two losses to two really good teams. We knew they were gonna be physical and tough and that's what they were. "They threw the ball a little bit more than we thought they were going to. We had rally, respond and make plays." Edison finished with 194 efficient yards — 99 through the air and 95 on the ground. After a first half that featured little offense, the Chargers put together a big third quarter to take a two-score lead. Edison quarterback Cole Leimeister connected with Brody McFadden on a 22-yard play-action touchdown pass to cap the first possession of the second half. That gave Edison a 14-0 lead. "We worked on it this week," Hall said. "That's one of our big runs plays and we tried to get a play-action pass and Brody found the end zone." Bellevue answered with a 27-yard touchdown run by Nolan Hartman. Edison kept the offensive volley going with a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Leimeister's 27-yard pass to Coltyn Meagrow was the big play of the drive. Leimeister scored on third-and-goal from the one-yard line. Alex Davidson's extra point gave the Chargers a 21-7 lead. Bellevue needed a response and got it with a nine-play, 68-yard scoring drive. Ike Brown's 24-yard pass to Konner Dauch put the Redmen in Edison territory and five plays later, Hartman scored on a two-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. Edison was forced to punt on its next possession, but Bellevue turned it over on downs at its own 26. Edison fumbled, giving Bellevue one last chance from its own 12 with 2:20 to play, but the Redmen could only go eight yards before turning it over on downs again with about a minute to play. Brown completed 17 of 34 passes for 149 yards. Caden Cramer was his top target, catching seven passes for 69 yards. Bellevue ran the ball 17 times for 77 yards. The game's first touchdown came after Edison recovered a fumble on the Bellevue four-yard line — one play after Dauch made an interception that spoiled good Edison field position, which it had the entire first half. Leimeister scored on a keeper with 4:58 left in the first half. "Defensively, I thought we were pretty stout against the run and getting that fumble was huge," Hall said. Leimeister completed 10 of 12 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown and carried nine times for 21 yards and two scores. Ryder Kramb carried 15 times for 39 tough yards. Leimeister was knocked out of the game on a hard hit midway through the fourth quarter, but returned on defense a few plays later. He stayed in the game, took a few knees in victory formation, and Edison can look ahead to next Friday's trip to Clyde. "He's a tough dude," Hall said. "He made some tough runs and made some great throws. He really was kinda the glue who held it all together. He made enough plays for us to win." Bellevue 0 0 7 7 — 14Edison 0 7 7 7 — 21 E — Cole Leimeister 4 run (Alex Davidson kick)E — Brody McFadden 22 pass from Leimeister (Davidson kick)B — Nolan Hartman 27 run (Zach Moses kick)E — Leimeister 1 run (Davidson kick)B — Hartman 2 run (Moses kick)