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Belpre blanks Federal Hocking for win No. 4

By Kerry Patrick 6 min read

BELPRE - Belpre football embraces playing in front of the home fans. Up until recently, that wasn't always the case.

Friday on Alumni Night at Ralph Holder Stadium, the Golden Eagles extended their win streak to three straight after posting a 39-0 shutout over Federal Hocking.

The game was played in front of a live television audience with an anonymous individual setting off a postgame firework celebration.

"In case somebody comes to me, I have no idea who set those off," Belpre coach Brian Hutchinson said after his ballclub improved to 4-2. "I don't know who that is, but we appreciate it.

"I can't thank our town, our community enough for coming out here tonight. The boys look forward to playing at home. And I'm not going to lie. That hasn't always been the case. We have a very aggressive fan base. They want to see a winner, and we are just trying to play hard for them."

The fireworks arrived early as Belpre scored 26 second-quarter points and took a 33-0 lead into halftime. Sophomore quarter Mason Baxter threw for 246 yards in the first half. Senior Malaki Ensor was his main target after catching seven passes for 156 yards.

"We didn't really have the athletes last year (to open up the attack)," Ensor said. "We have good linemen, but we just don't have the linemen where we can just run it up the middle and just shove it down teams' throats. But we have athletes to throw the ball to. We have people who can go up and get the ball one on one.

"Mason and I have been with each other forever. I played flag football with him, so me and him hit it off there and it just followed over to high school."

Despite the six touchdowns scored by the Golden Eagles, Ensor's name was not on the list. He was close - extremely close - after covering 40 yards on a catch which gave Belpre first-and-goal at the Federal Hocking 1 in the final 30 seconds of the second quarter

Two plays later, Gunner Willis scored from the 1.

"I was running around the corner and lowering my shoulder - I had the ball in my right hand and fell to my left," said Ensor, who was recognized by coach Hutchinson in the postgame team huddle as 'everybody's favorite tight end.' "I should have extended out, but I'm glad a younger guy got a touchdown."

Federal Hocking (0-5) entered the contest having lost 14 games in a row. The Lancers never got on track offensively as the Golden Eagles recorded 14 tackles for loss in the first half alone. Quarterback Tristyn Bowers felt the brunt of the Belpre pressure and finished the game with minus-35 yards rushing on 15 carries.

The Golden Eagles held the Lancers to three first downs and 34 yards of total offense.

Belpre's offense took advantage of short field opportunities - beginning with its second series of the game. Baxter and Ensor connected on a 21-yard pass completion to open the drive. Baxter then found Malik Currie open for a 7-yard TD catch and the scoring was set in motion as the Golden Eagles took a 7-0 lead at the 3:21 mark of the first period.

On the second play of the second quarter, Federal Hocking faced third-and-12 from its own 5. The ensuing snap from center sailed over Bowers' head and rolled beyond the end zone for a safety.

A lengthy kick return from Currie and a personal foul penalty against Federal Hocking left the ball sitting at the Lancers' 4. On first down, running back Alex Parker gained three of his game-high 92 yards, which set up Carson Woodford's 1-yard plunge. Barely two minutes into the period and the lead increased to 15-0.

Later in the quarter, Belpre's defense knocked Federal Hocking backwards on three consecutive plays - including consecutive quarterback sacks from Karter Greathouse which forced Federal Hocking to punt.

Belpre grabbed the momentum and scored touchdowns on its next three drives. Kade Hutchinson got the call for a 6-yard TD carry followed by Parker's sensational grab on a go-route resulting in a 46-yard TD reception.

When Willis completed the scoring on the 1-yard TD dive, the Golden Eagles had posted 18 points in a matter of three minutes.

In his third straight start at QB, Baxter completed 14-of-21 passes for 244 yards with two picks.

"We are getting more guys involved," Baxter said. "It's aligned pretty good. I thank the players and my coach for doing that. I also praise God. He has given me everything I've got.

"My line is going great for me also. I just love how they are blocking."

Doesn't hurt either when he has a 6-foot-4, 207-pound tight end who was honorable mention All-Ohio last year as one of his targets.

"Malaki is like my older brother - he has always been there for me," Baxter said. "Every time I need to talk to him about something, he is there. He is a guy who has given me a lot of rides. I probably owe at least a couple thousand in gas money.

"He comes down with everything so I just love playing with him."

Federal Hocking nearly ruined the shutout bid in the third quarter. On a first-and-10 from the Lancer 25, Bowers completed a 55-yard pass. Entering the red zone for only the second time on the night, the next play resulted in an interception by Currie playing center field and providing double coverage on a Lancer receiver in the end zone.

Belpre tacked on its final touchdown when Woodford found the end zone for the second time - this one from 17 yards during a running clock in the fourth quarter.

"We know we are not perfect," Hutchinson said. "We didn't think this was going to be an overnight success story. We've got so many weeks and months and years to just get this back to where we would like to see it on a regular basis."

Belpre 39, Federal Hocking 0

FH (0-6) 0 0 0 0 - 0

Belpre (4-2) 7 26 0 6 - 39

First Quarter

B: Malik Currie 7 pass from Mason Baxter (Malaki Ensor kick), 3:21

Second Quarter

B: Safety, 11:08

B: Carson Woodford 1 run (kick failed), 10:13

B: Kade Hutchinson 6 run (kick failed), 3:27

B: Alex Parker 46 pass from Baxter (kick failed), 2:00

B: Gunner Willis 1 run (kick failed), 0:29

Fourth Quarter

B: Woodford 17 run (kick failed), 2:58

Team Stats

Federal Hocking. First downs: 3. Rushing yards: 25-(minus-40). Passing yards: 74. Total yards: 34. Passing: 5-12-1. Penalties: 4-33. Fumbles lost: 1.

Belpre. First downs: 20. Rushing yards: 28-190. Passing yards: 244. Total yards: 434. Passing: 14-21-2. Penalties: 5-65. Fumbles lost: 0.

Individual Stats

Federal Hocking. Rushing:Jason Harness 1-14. Passing: Tristyn Bowers 5-9-1, 74 yards. Receiving: Adler Zbeha 2-6, Owen Needs 1-11.

Belpre. Rushing: Alex Parker 13-92, Kade Hutchinson 5-51, Carson Woodford 8-41, Mason Baxter 1-5, Gunner Willis 1-1. Passing: Mason Baxter 14-21-2, 244 yards. Receiving: Malaki Ensor 7-156, Alex Parker 1-46, AJ Copen 1-23, Jayden Gibbs 1-17, Malik Currie 2-2.

Next game: Belpre at Trimble, Oct. 2; Eastern at Federal Hocking, Oct. 2

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