FOOTBALL

BSMS at DeKalb Rosette (7th Grade)

Belvidere South Middle School's 7th grade football team travelled to Dekalb Rosette Thursday to take on a strong, previously unbeaten team.  BSMS won out in this game, 32-18 to tie for the conference lead.

The game started poorly for the Bucs as the opening kickoff was fumbled and returned for a touchdown by Rosette to make the score 6-0 early.  The two-point conversion failed.

Belvidere came back strong with their offense being led by Luke Hearn's strong inside runs picking up 4-5 yards with each carry.  At Rosette's 37, Shane Mains broke off-tackle and down the sideline for a touchdown.  Taylor Arrango added the 2-point conversion to make the score 8-6 Bucs.

Rosette showed some of their own offensive firepower by moving the ball on their next series, scoring on a 33-yard pass to go ahead 12-8.  Again, the Buc defense stopped the PAT.

BSMS went back on offense on their own 35.  Hearn ran right on the first play, fumbled, and it was picked up by Mains carrying out his fake on the outside.  He picked it up in stride and carried in 61 yards for the score.  Brandon Ross added the 2-point conversion and Belvidere had the lead back at 16-12. 

The ensuing kickoff was squibbed and eventually recovered by Belvidere, giving them good field position on Rosette's side of the field.  The offense stalled this time, turning it over on downs.  Rosette also struggled to pick up a first down, choosing to punt on 4th down.  Shane Mains again showed his field presence by gathering in the punt at his own 47 and turning the corner to go 53 yards to paydirt.  Luke Hearn earned the 2-point conversion this time putting Belvidere ahead, 24-12.

The game went back and forth in the second half with field position until Rosette scored with 1:30 left in the game.  Now only a touchdown down, Rosette attempted an onside kick.  Taylor Arrango recovered for the Bucs, virtually securing the game.  But that wasn't quite the end.  Arrango, playing quarterback, faked up the middle and got outside the right end to go 47 yards for the game clinching score.  Cole Johnson added the 2-point conversion to end the scoring at 32-14. 

Offensively, Mains led the Bucs with 126 yards rushing, Johnson had 87 yards, and Hearn had 56 yards.  Defensively, Arrango had 2 fumble recoveries, Dalton Gooding and Trevor Austin had numerous tackles up the middle and Mains and Hearn played tough on the ends to stop Rosette's attacks.  Ian Staples played strong in a relief role at D-end and Anthony DeMito did his normal good job at middle linebacker. 

Coaches Comment's
"After a shaky start, we played well as a team against a strong opponent.  We were very aggresive on the offensive line, to the point of picking up a penalty, but I can live with that if we're working hard up to the whistle.  Rosette had a strong running attack, we could have let down and allowed them to run on us if we weren't a hard-nosed group, but this team doesn't back down from anyone.  That's good to see.  I like the competitiveness they show."

John Rabideau

7th Grade Football

BSMS