The game was tied 0-0 at half.
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“We talked all week about how this was going to be a dogfight,” Franklin running back Gage Johnson said. “To come out and execute like that in overtime is a great feeling.”
Said Woods: “That was a crazy one.”
Franklin, which had a potential game-winning field goal blocked in the final minute of regulation, improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SWBL.
Bellbrook, which had a 16-game regular season win streak snapped last week at Waynesville after allowing a touchdown and two-point conversion with 33 seconds left, fell for the second straight game in heart-stopping fashion. The Eagles (3-2, 0-1) host undefeated and state-ranked Valley View (No. 6 in Division IV) next week.
“I felt solid about where we were at (entering overtime),” Bellbrook head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “We were playing pretty good defense and running the ball with authority. They made a play – we didn’t.”
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Recovering its own second-half kickoff at the Franklin 18 when the Wildcats failed to field the ball, the Eagles scored on a 1-yard run by Jonah Atchison for a 7-0 lead. After trading punts, Woods connected with Cyre Williams for a 39-yard gain down to the Bellbrook 5. Eagle linebacker Ashton Ault appeared to force a fumble at the end of the run that was recovered by Bellbrook. Williams was ruled down. Johnson scored on a 5-yard run three plays later to tie it.
On the Wildcats next possession, Johnson took the first snap 80 yards for a 14-7 lead. Atchison’s second touchdown – a 10-yard jaunt – tied the game 14-14 with 6:11 left.
The Wildcats responded with a 12-play drive that ended in Bryan Thacker’s 46-yard field goal attempt being blocked by Braeden Gedeon with 38 seconds left. Bellbrook picked up 45 yards on the ensuing snap thanks to a 15-yard run from Alex Westbrock and late hit and personal foul penalties on Franklin. At the Franklin 35 with 20 ticks left, Bellbrook gained two yards in four snaps setting up overtime.
After Woods hit Dirks for the go-ahead score, the Wildcats defense notched tackles for loss on second and third down and forced a Bellbrook incompletion on fourth.
“They just kept battling and battling and battling,” Franklin coach Brad Childers said. “Everyone knew there were times when this game could have gone the other way.”
Franklin holds an 8-6 lead in the series since joining the SWBL in 2006. The loss was Bellbrook’s fourth straight at Atrium Stadium.
Since 2011, the teams have combined for six of eight SWBL Southwestern Division titles.
“Our only goal was to get out of here 2-0 in the league,” Childers said. “We knew coming in we were going to have to play the best we could without making mistakes. We have to find that balance between playing smart and playing physical, because it almost cost us the game. We picked up some experience tonight.”
Said Johnson: “We never laid down.”
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