Scoring drought ends, but Braves drop 29th straight

DANE FUELLING

WZBD.com

A change of number for one of the most important members of the team and full confidence from head coach Nick Hall in his kicker ended a couple of long droughts for Bellmont Friday at New Haven, but the Bulldogs still laid a licking on the winless Braves on Homecoming Night, scoring their first victory of the season with a 50-9 blowout win.

The Z Team wraps up Friday’s game between New Haven and Bellmont with a summary of the scoring for both teams.

*Grady Baker celebrates his first touchdown at his new position. (Photo by Tara Riehm)*

Grady Baker was like a masked man for much of the first half in front of a thousand people at the New Haven stadium, wearing #43 rather than his printed #62. It wasn’t until he reached about 40 yards rushing (more yards than the team had collectively in last week’s loss to Leo) that the PA announcer was informed on who was picking up chunks of yardage for the visitors.

Bellmont’s newest running back piled up 113 yards on 22 carries, bowling over would-be tacklers and re-igniting an old wrestling rivalry with New Haven’s Charles McGrant throughout the contest.

Most importantly, Baker scored the team’s first offensive touchdown since Week 1 when he punched it in from one yard out late in the third quarter.

Grady Baker punches it in after Noah Dyer recovers a New Haven fumble.

Altogether, the Braves had 180 yards of offense. They had less than 500 yards of total offense in their first six games, so the performance of Baker and Co. will breathe some confidence into the team for next week’s game against DeKalb.

*Center Cam Friedt is prepared to snap the ball to quarterback Easton Curtis in the first half of Friday’s game at New Haven. (Photo by Tara Riehm)*

Easton Curtis finished 6 of 21 for 46 yards, although his totals could have been higher had New Haven not committed several pass interference penalties on long balls down the sidelines. While the penalties don’t add to the Braves’ offensive totals, they all moved the chains for the Braves downfield.

*Pass interference calls against New Haven allowed Bellmont to move the ball down the field as a second option to a strong running night for Grady Baker. (Photo by Tara Riehm)*

By the time Baker found the end zone, Jack Riehm had already put them on the scoreboard with a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter – the first points scored since Week 2 for BHS.

*Jack Riehm converted an opportunity to break the Bellmont scoring drought when he nailed a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter Friday. (Photo by Tara Riehm)*

Oliver Werling had 21 yards rushing on four touches for the Braves.

For New Haven, it was an opportunity to awaken their offense. They used plenty of options throughout the night and racked up 436 yards of offense.

Quarterback Dominick Wallace led a New Haven passing attack that amassed 155 yards, with the biggest moment coming on an 80-yard throw to Jamarcus Turner midway through the third quarter.

DJ Simpson was the most lethal runner for the home team, totaling 100 yards on just eight carries and scoring on three of them.

N’evon Gibson used his size and great blocking to pick up 73 yards on five carries.

Analysis and insights from the Z Team after Bellmont’s loss to New Haven.

The Braves will travel to DeKalb, who routed Norwell Friday, for Week 8 before returning home to take on NE8 leaders East Noble in the regular season finale.