The stakes are not as high as Bellefontaine would have hoped for entering the final game of the season, but all is not lost.
With a victory at Tecumseh on Friday, the Chiefs can finish with a winning record. A win would also result in a positive conclusion to what has been an up-and-down campaign.
“This is our last game and we want to make sure we play our best football in our last time out,” said Bellefontaine head coach Toby Smith. “We have talked a lot about this being the final game and playing with a sense of urgency. For a lot of the guys, this is going to be the last time they put the pads on. We want to put them in a position to come out with a good taste in their mouths.”
Bellefontaine (5-4, 1-3) played its most complete game of the season two weeks ago in a 41-7 rout of Kenton Ridge. However, the Chiefs stumbled to a 43-3 loss to a talented London squad last Friday.
BHS will look to bounce back against a Tecumseh team that has endured a tough go of it this fall.
The Arrows are winless in league play and are 1-8 overall. Their lone win came against Graham (21-17) in Week 5.
Tecumseh is coming off a 35-29 overtime loss to Kenton Ridge.
The Arrows are scoring just 13 points per game while giving up an average of 37 points per contest.
Offensively, Tecumseh has again been a ground dominated unit this season. The Arrows have rushed 372 times for 1,480 yards. They have completed just 42 passes on 115 attempts for 567 yards.
“They are a methodical offense that likes to be physical and grind on you,” said Smith.
Forming a 1-2 running punch in the backfield for the Arrows are senior Lucas Rodgers and junior Wyatt Ferguson. Rodgers has 492 rushing yards with three touchdowns and Ferguson has went for 479 yards and three scores on the ground.
Senior quarterback Caden Riley has thrown 12 interceptions and just three touchdowns.