One of the yearly team goals for the Bellefontaine football team is to be peaking at the end of the season. Coming off an impressive 41-7 rout of Kenton Ridge, the Chiefs feel like they are close to hitting on all cylinders.
“I definitely believe we have improved as the season has gone on,” said Bellefontaine head coach Toby Smith. “I feel like we are playing our best football right now.”
The Chiefs will attempt to net a big win in their final home game of the season Friday when they host London for a Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail division game at AcuSport Stadium.
The Red Raiders (7-1, 2-1) were handed their first loss of the season last Friday as they fell to Springfield Shawnee 30-22.
“They are a very physical football team,” said Smith. “They are big and aggressive up front and they have some physical running backs. We will have our hands full.”
London has used a combination of a stingy defense and a dominant ground game for success this fall. The Red Raiders are allowing just 11.6 points per game while scoring 45.6 per contest.
Offensively, the Red Raiders employ a ground-heavy attack. They average just eight pass attempts per game.
London has three running backs with at least 450 rushing yards. Leading the group is senior Caleb Sollars (5-7, 185), who has accounted for 725 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Junior Khaleb Comer (5-10, 165) has 518 rushing yards and six scores and sophomore Antwaun Burns (5-6, 165) has rushed for 454 yards and 10 TDs.
Senior quarterback Juane Gardner (6-0, 175) has added 254 rushing yards and five touchdowns to go along with 474 passing yards and eight TDs.
“We have to match their physicality, if not exceed it,” said Smith. “We have to do our jobs on both sides of the ball if we want to have success.”
While the Red Raiders have been stout defensively for much of the season, they surrendered 467 yards against the Braves.
Bellefontaine (5-3, 1-2) will also look to find holes in the London defense after putting up 305 yards on the Cougars last Friday.
“We have to win the turnover battle and take advantage of our opportunities to score,” said Smith.