The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bison off to best start in nearly 10 years
The Beachwood football team isn’t completely in uncharted waters, but the Bison are close.
With a 10-7 win over West Geauga on Sept. 14, the Bison are 4-0 for the first time since 2009. That year, they won their first four and six of their first seven.
Needless to say, it’s a pretty special time for the football program.
“Our kids are believing,” Creel said. “It was a battle all night (against West Geauga). We’re gaining confidence. Every game, we believe we will win. Everybody is involved. It’s not just one or two people. We’re not fully there yet, but we are in a situation where we feel we can beat anyone.”
Beachwood showed its fortitude against the Wolverines. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Bison trailed, 7-0. But Creel said there was no panic.
With less than six minutes to go in the game, Creel’s team got on the scoreboard with a 45-yard field goal from Sam Babbush.
“I went to our special teams coach and said, ‘Can he make it?’ and he said ‘Yes,’ ” Creel said. “I didn’t flinch. I told him to go make the kick.”
Beachwood then forced a threeand-out and sent Kendyn Wiggins out to return a punt.
There were only a few minutes left in the game when Wiggins took the punt back 69 yards for the go-ahead score.
The Beachwood defense then locked down the final comeback attempt by the Wolverines.
“I told (Wiggins) to field the punt and do what you do — show what God has given you,” Creel said. “He returned a kick in the first half and it got called back for a penalty. I knew he had the juice to do it. It was just a matter of catching it.”
Next up is the ultimate test, a game against stateranked Perry. The Pirates are 3-1 after a Week 4 win over Chagrin Falls.
“We tell the kids that each week is its own season,” Creel said.
“This is a huge game. Perry has been dominant the last four or five years. It’s a big measuring stick for us, but I know our kids are ready to go out and see where we’re at.”
Nick of time
Three years ago, Nick Demchuk stepped into a huddle at Benedictine and looked around him. He was surrounded by senior veterans.
Now a senior, when Demchuk steps into the huddle, he is surrounded my underclassmen yearning for leadership much like he was as a sophomore. Demchuk is delivering. The youthful Bengals are only 1-3 at this juncture of the season, but with the help of Demchuk’s productivity and leadership, optimism is high.
“It’s somethinng where a few years ago, he was the