Bellbrook moves to 8-0 with big rally

Anyone doubting how good Brookville’s football team is got their answer when the Blue Devils took a 28-21 third-quarter lead at undefeated Bellbrook on Friday.

Anyone doubting the Golden Eagles’ resiliency got their answer with the final score.

Rallying with 35 unanswered points, Bellbrook remained unbeaten with a 56-28 win over the Blue Devils in a critical game between Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division leaders at Miami Valley South Stadium.

Bellbrook, ranked No. 2 in the state in the Division III state poll, improves to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the SWBL. Brookville, which had a five-game win streak snapped, drops to 6-2, 3-1.

Bellbrook has won 11 straight games dating back to last year, which is the fourth longest active streak in the state behind Marion Local (35), Akron Hoban (22) and Kenston (12).

The Golden Eagles are also two wins away from securing just the third undefeated season in the program’s 54 years.

Sedrick Ferguson and Justin Sloan each scored four touchdowns for Bellbrook.

“Our kids battled,” Brookville head coach Mike Hetrick said. “We put ourselves in position in the second half to pull it out. But we just couldn’t stop them.”

Said Bellbrook head coach Jeff Jenkins: “We know what a Hetrick-coached team is going to bring to the table. They came out hard and had a great game plan. Luckily we had the strength to pull it out.”

Brookville entered with its lone loss to Anna (which beat undefeated Coldwater 21-20 Friday), but the Blue Devils’ six wins were against teams with a combined nine victories (five alone by Tri-County North).

The Blue Devils showed their substance by battling to a 21-21 halftime tie.

On the first series of the second half, Brookville took its first lead on a 4-yard run by Ben Smith.

Bellbrook responded with a 68-yard touchdown run by Ferguson.

On the ensuing possession, Bellbrook’s JR McCormick stuffed Brookville on fourth-and-2.

Bellbrook scored on every second half possession.