Bellevue threatens, but can't finish in loss to Bath

LIMA — The old adage is that whoever controls the line of scrimmage generally wins the football game. That, and converting on scoring chances. In a game that saw Bellevue get the ball within its opponent's 10-yard line three times, the Redmen had zero points to show for it in a 21-0 loss to Lima Bath. Behind dual-threat quarterback Zach Welsch and do-it-all back Mikey Hale, the Wildcats dictated the style of play early using both Welsch through the air and on the ground. "Credit to Bath. They are a very good football team," Bellevue coach Alex Shepherd said. "We marched down the field a couple times, but I just need to do better calling plays to finish those drives." The Redmen (8-4) defense came in limiting opponents to just 8.6 points per game during their season-long five-game winning streak to end the season. Bath came in averaging 40.9 points per game. "The defense played a good game tonight," Shepherd said. "I need to do a better job of putting my offense in better positions to score." The Wildcats (9-2) burst out the gates early using the legs of Welsch and Hale as they marched down the field before Hale ran it in from eight yards out. The Redmen continued to have success moving the ball as they got to Bath's 10-yard line before turning it over on downs. After a quarter of play, the Wildcats led 7-0. "Our defense was locked in tonight even though Bellevue's quarterback had time to throw," Bath coach Frank Russell said. "Credit to my coaches for a great game plan." Starting the second quarter, Bath tried to get tricky on a reverse wide receiver pass, but Ike Brown picked the pass off, returning it to the 50-yard line. After marching the ball to the 4-yard line, Brown got picked off by Andru McDermott in the end zone. Both teams had success moving the ball, but only Hale's scamper showed up on the scoreboard at halftime. In the second half, Bellevue got the ball to Bath's 42 yard-line on a 14-yard run by Brown before a holding penalty stalled the drive. The Wildcats marched right down the field and got a second touchdown from Hale to take a 14-0 lead. In the fourth quarter, Welsch hooked up with Daniel Cole for a 54-yard touchdown to take a commanding 21-0 lead. The third of three drives within the Wildcat 10-yard line stalled as Brown's pass to Owen Hancock fell incomplete. The loss wraps up Shepherd's first season at the helm of the Redmen. He led his team to eight wins, including a Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title. Bellevue hosted a playoff game and recorded two wins in the Battle of Route 20 for the first in the history of the rivalry. The Redmen were 5-1 at home this season. "A lot of people did not give this group of seniors a shot this season," Shepherd said. "We will look back on this season and recognize that we accomplished some very good things." Bellevue 0 0 0 0 — 0Bath 7 0 7 7 — 21 Ba — Mikey Hale 8 run (Isaac Walls kick)Ba — Hale 4 run (Walls kick)Ba — Daniel Cole 54 pass from Zach Welsch (Walls kick)