BEALLSVILLE – In many ways, Beallsville High School’s football program is a grassroots operation.

From the coaching, all the way down to the folks who run the concession stands, everyone has a role to play.

That’s how it works in a small town, and in a small-town football program.

When the school was in danger of being shuttered, members of the community stepped up to save it. And when the football team was in danger of meeting the same fate, a handful of players stepped up to keep the tradition alive.

Larry Deem stepped up to coach the team. After years toiling as an assistant, he decided to do what he could to keep Blue Devils pride alive. And he’s helped do that, guiding the team this fall through a schedule that’s included a mix of varsity and junior varsity games.

But Deem is more than a coach. He’s a mentor, a friend and … caretaker of the field?

Yes, in addition to his coaching duties, Deem takes it upon himself to help keep the team’s field, located behind the former high school in the heart of town, in tip top shape.

For him, it’s just another part of his mission to keep the program going.

”I just took it upon myself to take care of that,” he said.

Deem said it only takes a few hours a week to mow the field. He does it once if the Devils are on the road, twice if there’s a home game.

Now, when it comes to lining the field, Deem aiding in that effort, too, with a little help.

”Myself and the coaching staff and some fathers of the players did it every time,” Deem said.

For the most part, doing the job was mundane. There were some challenges, though, such as if the field was too dry or too wet.

”It’s a time-consuming sometimes thankless job,” Deem said. ”Players from other schools would sometimes comment on how good the field looks.”

That made Deem and the other men feel pretty good.

”It’s our way of still taking pride in what we have,” he said. ”It shows the players that if you do things right the first time it’s easier than having to go back and fix it later.”

As with any team, Senior Night is a special event. So, to make Beallsville’s a little more exciting, folks decided to give the field a little added panache.

It was decided to put a Blue Devil head in the field’s middle and to paint lettering – Blue on one end and Devils on the other – in the end zones. For this, Deem enlisted the help of ”The Barn Artist,” Beallsville graduate Scott Hagan.

Hagan, best known statewide as the creator of the Bicentennial barns in each of Ohio’s 88 counties in 2003, was excited to help out with the project.

”Sometimes, my work takes me away from the area,” Hagan said. ”This year, the weather was really good and I was happy to be home. I wanted to do it and I had some time.”

Also helping were Rodney Schneider, Mike Heath, Brian Kinney, Mark Shaffer, Larry Stukey and Ron Daugherty.

”Some of these guys are working in the mine and working all days there and then working on this,” Hagan said. ”With our community, that’s how it has to be to make things happen.”

Deem was happy to have Hagan on board to handle the artistic side of things.

”I’m not an artist, and I don’t claim to be,” he said laughing. ”To be able to watch him work that efficiently he made it look easy. His attention to detail was just outstanding.

”I told him, ‘It’s your field.’ I trust you. I couldn’t have dreamt it would’ve came out that good.”

All told the project took about 12 hours to complete and ended around midnight.

”The players came to practice and were grinning from ear to ear,” Deem said. ”They really appreciated it.”

Hagan was quick to point out it was a team effort.

”Without the help of all the guys it wouldn’t have happened,” he said. ”It takes a lot of hands when you don’t have stencils.

”It’s really a special feeling to be a part of it, especially when it’s your home school.”

If you know of someone in sports in the Ohio Valley whom I could feature as an Ohio Valley Unsung Hero, drop me a line at rthorp@timesleaderonline.com or via Twitter at RickThorp1