The Bellefontaine eighth-grade Chiefs put the finishing touches on a historic middle school football career Monday night, defeating London 32-18 to complete an undefeated season and capture their second consecutive Central Buckeye Conference championship.
Bellefontaine wasted little time getting its offense going. Jax Fleming opened the scoring with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Palmer on a double-pass play, catching the London defense off guard and giving the Chiefs an early spark.
Quarterback Braylon Lyburtus connected with Palmer for two touchdown passes, while Palmer delivered a standout performance with three receptions for 143 yards and three total touchdowns. His ability to stretch the field and make big plays proved to be a key part of Bellefontaine’s offensive success.
Fleming also made an impact on the ground, capping off his performance with a 30-yard touchdown run.
Tovan Benton added three receptions for 58 yards, providing another reliable target in the passing game. Benton also came up with a key defensive play, recording an interception in the red zone to stop a London scoring opportunity.
Briar Barber helped keep the Chiefs’ offense balanced, rushing for 85 yards.
Bellefontaine’s combination of explosive offensive plays and timely defensive stops secured the 32-18 victory and completed a perfect season.
The win gives the eighth-grade Chiefs their second consecutive CBC championship and allows the group to finish its middle school football careers undefeated.
