by The stands were jam-packed for a second-round playoff matchup between the undefeated (11-0) Glenville TarBlooders and the (7-4) Bellevue Redmen. The TarBlooders proved why they have as good of a chance as anybody in making a run at the division IV state-title this year. After a dominant performance, Glenville (#1) will face Elyria Catholic (#4) in the regional semifinal next Friday night.
1st Half
Bellevue received the ball first and was immediately stumped by Glenville’s first few defensive fronts. Junior quarterback Ashton Martin looked to the sideline as the Redmen began checking-out of their sets and shifting their offense. Martin was able to pick up two quick first downs after connecting with senior WR Tyler Ray on four consecutive attempts to open the game. Then, on first-and-ten from just across midfield, Martin lofted a ball towards the endzone, but it was picked off by Glenville’s Malik Davis. The TarBlooders took over from their own five-yard line.
Glenville QB Deonte Rucker immediately began to orchestrate his offense. After finding senior WR Milique Herron for a pickup of 14, he handed it off to D’Shawntae Jones for a gain of 10. On the next play, Jones slipped through the Bellevue secondary and ended up taking it all the way down the sideline for a 70-yard score. After a missed extra-point attempt, Glenville led 6-0.
Bellevue set up shop from their own, and Martin went back to work. He got sophomore WR Cooper Moyer and junior WR Dylan Barger into the mix with back-to-back receptions on first down. As the Redmen moved into enemy territory, they looked poised to strike back.
And then a targeting call made everyone in the stadium hold their breath. As Martin rolled out of the pocket, he was left unprotected. While looking for his receivers downfield and running toward the sideline, senior Glenville LB Braylon West delivered a blow that nearly knocked Martin’s head off his shoulders. Targeting was called, and the Redmen advanced 15 yards down the field.
Despite the pause in the game, two plays later Martin was back on the field. On fourth-and-two, he found Barger to convert the first down. After Glenville’s D-line made it clear that a running attack would be mightily ineffective inside the redzone, Martin connected with Barger again for a five-yard touchdown pass. Their two-point conversion failed, and the score was tied 6-6.
It took the TarBlooders just two plays to respond with a touchdown of their own. Senior WR Jermaine Foster caught a 36-yard touchdown pass during the closing seconds of the first quarter, but another unsuccessful two-point conversion meant that the score remained 12-6
After receiving the ball at their own 30-yard line, Bellevue quickly notched two first downs. But a false start on 4 and 8 forced a Redmen punt. With the ball back in their hands, Glenville had a chance to go up by two scores in the first half.
The TarBlooders opened their next drive with three straight handoffs to Jones. After picking up a first down on third-and-two, Rucker connected with junior TE Damarion Witten for a twenty-yard gain. On the next play, Jones burst through the line to pick up 27 more yards, and Rucker capped off the drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown. Again, the TarBlooders failed to convert their extra point attempt, and the score was 18-6 with six minutes to play.
Bellevue took over, hoping to close the gap to a single score. Early in their drive, things seemed to be going well. Martin remained steady, and the Redmen picked up four quick first downs. However, on second-and-eight from the 40-yard line, Martin threw his second interception of the first half. Braylon West came up with the pick, and just 27 seconds remained on the clock.
But not even time itself could stop Glenville tonight. With one second left, Rucker lobbed it up to Witten, who fell into the endzone for a 40-yard score. Glenville led 24-6 at the half.
2nd Half
Bellevue received the second-half’s opening kickoff, but quickly had their hopes extinguished by another interception early in the third quarter. This time, it was Braylon’s younger brother, Bryce West, who forced the turnover. After Glenville stretched the lead to 31-6 on a 77-yard touchdown catch by Shawn Williams, the dancing began. The TarBlooders went on to score twice more on rushing touchdowns by Rucker and J’Vaughn Goodson.
Bellevue came into tonight’s matchup undersized and overmatched. The TarBlooders had a stronghold on virtually every aspect of the game and were by-far the better team. The Redmen return next season with all but one of their starting 7 playmakers but will be looking to fill the shoes of 3/5 of their starting linemen.
Players of the Game
Glenville QB Deonte Rucker
10/11, 271 passing yards, 4 TD’s
Bellevue WR Tyler Ray
11 catches, 90 yards, 1TD, 1 fumble recovery
