Photo by Kim North Bellaire’s Bradyn Beckett (40) and Maurice Webb (21) pursue Indian Creek’s Gavin Pownall (3) during Saturday afternoon’s game at Nelson Field.

BELLAIRE — Indian Creek played ‘smash mouth’ football Saturday afternoon at cloud-covered Nelson Field in a 40-26 domination of mistake-prone Bellaire.

The Redskins (5-1) ran the ball an astonishing 67 times for 320 yards and five touchdowns as they took advantage of their size up front to march up and down the field, collecting 23 first downs along the way.

Indian Creek’s junior-dominated offensive line averaged nearly 260 pounds between the six offensive linemen that rotate in, including the mammoth White brothers – Nishon (6-7, 385) and Semaj (6-3, 360) and a pair of tight ends. The lead blocker, fullback Jayce Nett, checked in at 240.

“We thought we were pretty good up front and kind of wanted to establish ourselves by taking our time in moving the ball down the field,” veteran Indian Creek head coach Andrew Connor said.

“Our offensive line was lights-out and our backs ran hard. I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage the whole game with the exception of one drive.”

Other linemen were Luke McMillion, Adam Ray, Maverick Woodbury and Brennan Moore. The tight end were Jomar Johnson and Mason Salazar.

Bellaire struck first when Kole Swierkos outleaped a pair of Indian Creek receivers on fourth-and-6 for an interception. The senior broke free and sped down the sidelines for a 70-yard return. The two-point failed and the Big Reds (4-2) led 6-0 with 4:50 on the first-quarter clock.

“He did a nice job on that play,” Bellaire head coach Mark Bonar said. “We weren’t moving the ball on offense and that gave us a spark.”

That would be the last pass Ian Starkey would throw until late in the second quarter. During the span, Indian Creek ran the ball 30 consecutive times in building a 24-14 lead at the half.

Senior tailback Zion McGee scored three touchdowns in the quarter and also ran for a pair of two-point conversions. He capped a 11-play, 69-yard drive with a 2-yard burst off left tackle and then skirted around his left end to make it 8-6.

“We didn’t stop the run very well but we did some good things,” Bonar said. “We had some kids play really hard and they made some emotional mental mistakes. They (Indian Creek) have a nice team. They did a good job.”

A fourth-down pass fell incomplete at the Indian Creek 30 on the next Bellaire possession, and the Redskins went 70 yards on 10 plays as McGee followed Nishon White and McMillion into the end zone from 3 yards out before tacking on two more points for a 16-6 margin.

Bellaire cut the deficit to 24-14 on a nifty run by Maurice Webb. The senior started to his left, then cutback across the grain and outran everyone for a 28-yard scoring play. Michael Dippel and Raekwon Pettigrew combined on the two-point pass with 7:14 left in the half. A 37-yard hookup between Dippel and Pettigrew preceded Webb’s run.

McGee weaved his way through players for a 16-yard run up the middle to cap a 6-play, 60-yard drive. Starkey then found Caleb Bodo wide open in the left side of the end zone to make it 24-14.

After forcing the Redskins to punt on the first possession of the third quarter, Bellaire struck again. Dippel found Pettigrew just inside the left corner of the end zone from 15 yards out to cap a 10-play, 91-yard march to make it 24-20 with 6:40 left in the third quarter.

Indian Creek responded with a 7-play, 60-yard drive of its own as Bruce Mazar ran in from 10 yards out and Starkey connected with Jomar Johnson on the two-point pass for a 32-20 advantage.

Webb returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Indian Creek 35 and it took just three plays for Bellaire to score. Dippel speared Luke Heatherington in the middle of the end zone on a 11-yard hookup, but the PAT kick was blocked, leaving the Redskins on top 32-26 late in the third quarter.

Sticking to its potent ground game, Indian Creek marched 60 yards on 10 plays as Mazar plunged in from 2 yards out. A key personal foul penalty against Bellaire aided the drive. Gavin Pownall ran in for the last points of the game.

The Big Reds drove to the Indian Creek 19 before fumbling with just under seven minutes remaining. The Redskins’ Mason Lester recovered.

Bellaire forced another punt but Jorden Hines intercepted a pass in the waning moments and the Redskins ran out the clock to go 5-1 for the first time in five years, according to Connor.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been 5-1. This win really means something to us coming on the road,” Connor added. “Bellaire is a good team. This was a team win for us today.”

McGee led a three-headed monster in the backfield with 140 yards and his three TDs on 30 carries. Pownall ran for 84 on 17 totes, while Mazar added 68 and his two scores on 11 attempts.

Bellaire’s Bradyn Beckett lugged the leather 17 times for 119 yards and Dippel completed half of his 16 attempts for 147 yards and the two TDs. Pettigrew had four catches for 101 and Heathering four for 46.

“Our young quarterback did a nice job. He really did some good things,” Bonar said of his sophomore field general.

The Big Reds were flagged 11 times for 100 yards.

Indian Creek hosts Harrison Central on Friday, while Bellaire visits St. Clairsville.

GAME NOTE

-Bellaire’s Keegan Davis was taken from the field by stretcher in the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury.