Photo by Joe Lovell Members of the Bellaire football team and cheerleaders gather around the S.P.A.R.K.Y. Trophy Saturday afternoon at Nelson Field after the Big Rees defeated Ohio 7 rival Martins Ferry, 41-14, in the 120th meeting.

BELLAIRE — Drew White picked a great time to have a huge day. Bellaire’s senior tailback ran for a career-high 214 yards and scored a pair of first-half touchdowns as S.P.A.R.K.Y. remained in possession of the Big Reds.

Led by its ‘Cherkoee’ offense, Bellaire ran for 373 yards and five scores in a 41-14 victory over Ohio 7 rival Martins Ferry Saturday afternoon at soggy Nelson Field in the 120th matchup between the two schools. Bellaire now holds a 59-54-7 in the all-time series, which dates back to 1905. The third consecutive Big Reds victory is also the first time that has happened since 1995-97.

“It feels good,” White said. “I couldn’t have done it without my linemen. They did a great job all day. I have to give all the credit to those guys up front.”

He cited Quentin Scott, Dalton Smelko, Keegan Davis, Kayse Rejonis, Joey Nixon, Chickie LaMotte, Graham Campbell, Logan Edgar and Jason Lemley.

White’s scoring runs covered 8 and 1 yards. He was named the Bellaire Player of the Game and also the Great American Rivalry Series MVP. Martins Ferry’s Tev’n Williams was voted his team’s MVP.

“We played really good all game,” Bellaire head coach Mark Bonar said. “Our offensive line and defensive lines dominated.”

When asked about White, the veteran head coach didn’t wait long to reply.

“He’s a great running back. He’s a great athlete,” Bonar said.

White’s 8-yard jaunt around his left end capped a 3-play, 59-yard march that featured a 44-yard sprint by Mac Mac Pettigrew from the shotgun. Lemley knocked the PAT through for a 7-0 leade.

After forcing the Purple Riders (5-5) to punt, the Big Reds went 83 yards on just five plays to make it 14-0. White had back-to-back runs of 46 and 23 before Pettigrew kept around the left end from 6 yards out. Lemley was again true.

White’s 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter capped a 7-play, 55-yard drive. Lemley upped the margin to 21-0.

The Big Reds weren’t finished by any means. A 17-yard inside shovel pass from Pettigrew to Maurice Webb – the only pass of the day for Bellaire – on third-and-goal made it 28-0. Webb went around right end and tight-roped his way along the Bellaire sideline, just getting inside the pylon.

A three-and-out by Martins Ferry gave Bellaire possession at their own 41 following a Williams’ punt. It only took the speedy Pettigrew one play to go the distance as he started around right end before cutting back and easily outrunning everyone to paydirt.

The kick failed, leaving the hosts ahead 33-0 at the half.

Pettigrew picked up 154 yards on 16 carries and scored twice.

Bellaire’s defense bottled up Martins Ferry’s explosive duo of quarterback Ayden Ludolph and tailback Tev’n Williams for the major portion of the game.

“We just couldn’t get anything going on offense and really took 21 points away from ourselves with three personal foul penalties there early on,” Martins Ferry head coach Justin Kropka said. “That was my pre-game speech to the team. I told them to watch themselves in a game like this

and they still got caught up.”

Williams finished with a mere 57 yards on 13 carries and Ludolph managed eight on 11 totes. He was also 7 of 12 for 36 yards through the air.

Ludolph scrambled in from 13 yards out to make it 33-7 after Jordi Lavall’s PAT. The Purple Riders pulled to within 33-14 after Ludolph hooked up with Maurice Barnett on a 10-yard scoring strike and Lavall’s ensuring placement.

However, LaMotte bulled his way in from 2 yards away to cap the scoring.

“As disappointed in our performance in the first half, I was equally as pleased with the way we played in the second half. That was the way Purple Rider football is to be played,” Kropka added. “The kids battled and battled. Some teams would have rolled over down 33-0, but our kids didn’t. I’m proud of their effort.”

Both coaching staffs will have to await the final rankings to see where they will play next week in the first round of the Division VI, Region 23 playoffs. According to playoff guru Joe Eitel, Martins Ferry was already assured a home game as the No. 8 seed with a win or loss. Meanwhile, Bellaire was also assured a playoff spot before Saturday’s contest after Friday night’s results.

“We’ll go and play wherever they tell us to,” Bonar said.

GAME NOTE

-In pre-game ceremonies, Bellaire’s Logan Edgar and Martins Ferry’s Baron Lucey were each presented with a scholar-athlete scholarship from members of the Great American Rivalry Series.