BELLAIRE – Scott Woods was a quarterback ahead of his time. Before the onset of spread offenses and wide-open aerial attacks, Woods was piling up prodigious passing numbers at Bellaire High.

Woods earned all-Ohio honors for Coach John Magistro’s Big Reds before embarking on a tremendous grid career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Woods’ tenure with the Crimson Hawks was an impressive one, with the exclamation point coming on Sept. 12 when he was inducted into the IUP Hall of Fame.

Woods still ranks fifth all-time in IUP history with 6,133 passing yards and total offense. He also quarterbacked the 1993 Crimson Hawks to the Division II national championship game, falling to North Alabama by a 41-34 count.

The 1989 Bellaire High grad was a two-time all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection. His record as starting QB at IUP was a brilliant 33-3-1, winning the PSAC West championship all three seasons. Woods still remains No. 2 with the Crimson Hawks for passing yards in a season (2,856).

“It is a very nice honor being inducted into the IUP Hall of Fame. Looking back, going to IUP was one of the best things ever to happen to me. I started my career at Marshall, but the head coach left, so I decided to transfer,” Woods said. “I knew where I wanted to go. Frank Cignetti was the IUP head coach, and I was familiar with him. He built a great program.

“IUP was a great fit for me,” he added. “I wasn’t the best athlete, but I was smart enough to realize my weaknesses.”

Woods’ rise up the QB depth chart at IUP was meteoric.

“I didn’t arrive on campus until the summer. I was the fourth string quarterback at that point,” Woods said. “I was only getting a few reps.

“As time went on, I was able to make some plays. One the quarterbacks chose to transfer and I kept moving up,” he continued. “I was fortunate that the offense was similar to the one at Marshall. It just clicked for me.”

Woods recalls the 1993 national championship game quite vividly.

“North Alabama won three straight national titles, and we had to play them on their home field. It is still the largest crowd even to attend a D-2 title game. We had a great fan base. I remember Coach Mark Bonar (Woods’ offensive coordinator at Bellaire) coming to the game,” Woods recalled. “They had the top-ranked defense in the country. I started by throwing an early interception but fortunately I got better.

“We were up by 10 in the fourth quarter and had the momentum until North Alabama blocked a punt to turn the tide. They scored with six seconds remaining to win the game,” he added. “Even though we lost, it was a great experience.”

Woods finished the game with more than 300 yards passing and three TDs.

His collegiate success came after a stellar prep grid career. He teamed with future Ohio State and NFL great Joey Galloway to form a lethal prep aerial tandem.

Woods led the Big Reds to a 9-1 mark his senior campaign, the lone blemish coming at the hands of Cambridge on a mud-soaked Nelson Field. The Reds just missed making the playoffs, as only four teams qualified for the post-season.

Bellaire went 8-2 in Woods junior season. He finished with more than 4,300 yards passing, a staggering prep total prior to the passing proliferation.

“I loved being on a team and never wanted to be the focus. I was fortunate to have so many coaches have a positive impact on my life,” Woods said. “John Magistro, Mike Sherwood and Mark Bonar all were great influences for me. I also had a strong family.

“They all were big reasons for my success,” he added. “I am so proud of what Coach Magistro has accomplished. He is a special individual, not just a great coach.”

In addition to his honors-filled football resume at Bellaire, Woods was a standout baseball and basketball player for the Big Reds.

“Scott Woods is one of the fiercest competitors that I have ever coached. He hated to lose and that attitude carried over to our entire team,” Magistro said. “Put those qualities with a strong throwing arm and great QB instincts and you have a winner. And that’s what he did at Bellaire and at IUP.”

Woods earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1994 from IUP and obtained his master’s degree in banking from the University of Wisconsin. He is now a banking executive.

Scott’s dad, Regis, was a former head football coach at Martins Ferry, while brother PJ was a gridder at Marshall University, helping the Thundering Herd win the national title in his senior season. He is the current athletic director at Philo High.

Scott has two daughters: Hannah (16) and Maggie (13). They reside in Cambridge.

BUBBA’S BITS

SPEAKING OF John Magistro, his 4-0 Westerville Central Warhawks are ranked second in the Division I, Region I computer ratings.

LOWELLVILLE’S FOOTBALL team served as nothing more than a punching bag for St. John Central Saturday. But its band was sensational. The 100-plus member contingent was the best I have witnessed this season, outside of Buckeye Local.

THE OHIO State Buckeyes will be fine in coming weeks. Once the QB situation is smoothed out, the Buckeyes will roll. Nothing wrong with winning an ugly nail-biter every so often. Alabama and USC would love to be in those shoes after last Saturday.

THE JENSEN Caretti recruiting sweepstakes are at a fevered pitch. Basically, every major power – save for UConn – is seeking the basketball services of the River High senior. When Ohio State, South Carolina and Rutgers all offer scholarships in girls hoops – as is the case with Caretti – you are definitely a special talent.

I LIKE the aggressive offensive attitude of Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh is making it a common practice to go for two instead of kicking after touchdowns. With the new elongated extra-point attempt, the Steelers will likely prove trendsetters by opting for a try for two.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com