Pettigrew leads Bellaire over Buckeye Local
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BELLAIRE - For anyone wondering if Bellaire's Raekwon Pettigrew had fully recovered from a serious ankle injury suffered during week 4 of last season, Friday night's performance, albeit it only for one half, should prove that he is indeed 100 percent.
The fleet-footed senior returned a pair of punts for touchdowns, outleaped a Buckeye Local defender for a 24-yard touchdown catch and caught a two-point pass in the Big Reds' 43-13 opening night rout of the Panthers at Nelson Field.
"I thought we played pretty well at times, but at times we didn't," Bellaire head coach Mark Bonar assessed. "We had a couple of penalties behind plays that weren't necessary, but overall, I was pleased."
Bellaire took a 7-0 lead as senior quarterback Michael Dippel found freshman Gavin Hibbitts in the right flat for a 5-yard scoring toss that capped a 5-play, 60-yard march to start the game.
Hibbitts then booted the point-after.
Then Pettigrew took over.
Buckeye Local was forced to punt on its ensuing possession and Pettigrew fielded the kick on one hop. He immediately broke to his right and found clear sailing down the home sidelines to complete an 88-yard scamper. The PAT was no good, but the Big Reds held a 13-0 advantage.
Ray'shawn Pettigrew picked off a pass on the Panthers second snap of their third series of downs, setting up the offense at the Buckeye Local 36.
Four plays later, Rylin McMahon took a handoff around left end from 13 yards out to raise the margin to 19-0 after another failed placement kick.
Buckeye Local got on the scoreboard on the second play of quarter number two when senior quarterback Tyler Schubert ran in from 8 yards out. The pass for two was no good as the count stood at 19-6.
Bellaire responded with a 4-play, 57-yard scoring march that culminated when Raekwon Pettigrew reached over a Buckeye Local defender and snatched the ball for a 24-yard scoring play. He then hauled in the two-point pass as the margin ballooned to 27-6.
The Big Reds defense held the Panthers to a three-and-out on their next drive, forcing another punt.
This time Raekwon Pettigrew fielded it at his 30, went right before cutting back to the left inside Buckeye Local 35 and outrunning everyone to the promised land.Ethan LaRoche caught the two-point pass.
"Raekwon is capable of breaking it any time he touches the ball," Bonar noted. "He's a game-breaker."
Freshman Chase Shively scored on a 14-yard jaunt and Zavien Scott ran for the two points as Bellaire led 43-6 at the half.
Following a scoreless third quarter in which the clock ran continuously, the Panthers reached the end zone when freshman quarterback Blake Worwa hooked up with junior Kaden Littlejohn on a 30-yard scoring strike. Jonas Eddy made it 43-13 with the PAT.
"We fought our butts off. We told the kids at halftime to go out swinging and they did that. We won the second half, but we put ourselves in a big hole in the first half," first-year Buckeye Local head coach Hayden Daley said. "I'm proud of the guys."
Bellaire piled up 180 yards rushing behind an offensive line that Bonar called "questionable" before the season. The group of center Dallas Frazier; Laken Scott and Jordan Lednik at the guards and Tycen Baker and Dalton Baker at the tackles was solid all night.
"I thought our offensive line did a good job tonight," Bonar said. "They did a nice job."
Trevor Dowery led the ground game with six carries for 63 yards, while freshman Chase Shively added 54 on 10 totes. Classmate Tyce Masciarelli added 39 on five stripes and McMahon finished three attempts for 34 yards.
Dippel only threw the ball four times, completing three for 36 yards and two TDs. Raekwon Pettigrew caught two for 31.
Ray'shawn Pettigrew had a fumble recovery for the Big Reds.
Schubert ran 11 times for 60 yards and a TD for the Panthers. Worwa came on in relief and was 4-for-5 for 87 yards, with Littlejohn on the receiving end of all four.
"Blake came in and did a nice job. He threw a really nice ball on the touchdown," Daley said.
Bellaire remains at home next week as Monroe Central visits. Buckeye Local returns to Ron Pobolish Field inside World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville to welcome River.