Bellefontaine’s football team has taken a businesslike approach this season on the way to an 8-1 record. Entering Week 10, there is still a bit of unfinished business left.
The Chieftains (8-1 overall, 4-0 in the Central Buckeye Conference) have already guaranteed themselves at least a piece of the Kenton Trail division title. They can clinch the outright championship Friday at London.
“To be able to play for an outright league championship in Week 10 is a compliment to the players and assistant coaches,” said BHS head coach Jason Brown. “We have come pretty far as a program in just a couple of years. It’s been a culmination of a brotherhood mentality and focusing on ‘we over me’ football.
“It’s a big deal to be playing for a league title, and we just want to go out and compete like crazy.”
The Red Raiders come in sitting in second place in the KT division behind the Chieftains with a 3-1 league mark. London is 6-3 overall.
“They are a very physical football team,” said Brown. “They have good size and they want to control the tempo on offense. They like to take the air out of the ball and play in a phone booth.
“Defensively, they are very sound and they do a good job of limiting big plays. They want to force you into long drives.”
London is the defending Kenton Trail division champion. Despite losing several standouts to graduation, the Red Raiders have enjoyed another successful campaign this fall.
London started the season with two straight losses before winning four in a row. The Red Raiders lost to Tecumseh 6-3 in Week 7, but rebounded with wins over Kenton Ridge (34-0) and Springfield Shawnee (31-14) the last two weeks.
Offensively, London has relied on its ground game. The Red Raiders have rushed for 2,826 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Leading the running attack is sophomore Noah Sellars, who has 927 yards and 13 TDs on 173 carries.
Senior Elijah Mitchell has been very productive out of the London backfield as well, recording 681 yards and five touchdowns on 71 attempts. He is averaging nearly 10 yards per carry.
“We have to get them behind the sticks and not let them eat up big chunks of the clock,” said Brown.
London is only averaging 76 passing yards per game, but junior quarterback Damion Roby has throw for seven touchdowns.
The London defense is spearheaded by linebackers Sean Johns and Noah Fellure and defensive end Andrew Sims. That group has combined for 150 tackles, with 11 1/2 for loss and 13 sacks.
“Offensively, we need to make them defend the whole field and match their physicality at the line of scrimmage,” added Brown.