The tale of the tape: Bellefontaine vs. Watterson

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Bishop Watterson Eagles (12-1)

Location: Columbus

Head Coach: Brian Kennedy

League: Central Catholic League

Playoff Games:

Round 1 South 45-0

Round 2 Miami Trace 44-7

Round 3 Bloom-Carroll 20-10

Playoff History: 27th appearance; 2x State Champion (2002, 2010); 3x State Runner-Up; 8x State Final Four

Playoff Record: 47-24 (includes this season)

Scoring 36 points per game while allowing 9 points per game (4 shutouts)

Top Players:

QB AJ McAninch has thrown for 2,797 yards, 34 TDs, and 7 INTs

WR Jake Uhlenhake has 55 receptions for 912 yards and 12 TDs

Dominic Purcell leads the defense with 90 tackles and 4 sacks

Bellefontaine Chieftains (11-2)

League: Central Buckeye Conference

Head Coach: Jason Brown

Playoff Games:

Round 1 John Glenn 49-7

Round 2 London 35-28

Round 3 Granville 29-21

Playoff History: 14th appearance; 3rd appearance in the Regional Final

Playoff Record: 8-13 (includes this season)

Scoring 36 points per game while allowing 18 points per game (1 shutout)

Top Players:

QB Tavien St. Clair 2,931 yards with 36 TDs and 4 INTs

RB Chris Fogan has rushed for 1,298 yards and 18 TDs

WR Riley Neer has 104 catches for 1,789 yards and 21 TDs

LB Jayden Temple leads the team with 127 tackles (21 TFL) and has 5 sacks

LB-Carter Caudill has 115 tackles

Kicker Alex Crabill is 50 for 56 in extra points and has not attempted a field goal this season

Previous Playoff Matchups:

1999 Regional Final Watterson 31 Bellefontaine 28

2000 Round 1 Watterson 27 Bellefontaine 13

2009 Round 1 Watterson 26 Bellefontaine 0

*Bellefontaine beat Watterson in 2021 14-7 in a regular season game

The Bellefontaine football team is scheduled to leave BHS at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

If you want to help send off the Chieftains here’s their route out of town:

  • South on Harding Street to
  • East on East Lake Avenue to
  • South on Ludlow Road to BMS then
  • North on Beth Harman then up the hill to BES, back down the hill, and continue
  • West on East Lake Avenue to
  • North on South Main Street to
  • East on East Sandusky Avenue to
  • North on Madriver Street to
  • West on East Williams Avenue to
  • North on North Park Street (past BIS) to
  • East on Palmer Avenue to
  • East on Iroquois Road to
  • East on Dakota Road to
  • South on Allison Avenue to
  • East on Sandusky Avenue / State Route 540 to US State Route 33

The Division III Regional Final game will be played at Marion Harding High School.

Kickoff will be at 7:00.

Live coverage begins at 6:40 on 107.3 The Drive with Dave Bezusko and Brandon Stockton.

If you are going to the game, parking will be $5 and the Chiefs fans will sit on the home side of the stadium.

14 comments
  1. Ken
    Ken
    November 17, 2023 at 5:51 am

    Should be a good game on paper. Will be rooting for BHS, just hope they wear their big boy pants tonight. They ain’t in the CBC no more.

    Reply
    • Aaron Taylor
      Aaron Taylor
      November 17, 2023 at 2:15 pm

      Watterson is beatable…The Chiefs beat ’em two years ago…It probably ain’t the same Waterson,this year, they’re probably new and improved,but we are so stacked in every position,we can beat anybody…That 6’7″ lineman they got might be able to pancake one guy,but he sure as h*** can’t pancake 4!

      Reply
      • Aaron Taylor
        Aaron Taylor
        November 17, 2023 at 2:16 pm

        I meant,pancake 4 guys at once

        Reply
        • Aaron Taylor
          Aaron Taylor
          November 17, 2023 at 2:17 pm

          He ain’t omni-present

          Reply
  2. Don pollo
    Don pollo
    November 17, 2023 at 8:25 am

    Never fear the chiefs are here!!!!!

    Reply
  3. Cooked
    Cooked
    November 17, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    Chiefs are about to get cooked maybe even shut out prolly shouldn’t be on the same field as this team..
    I said what I said

    Reply
    • Aaron Taylor
      Aaron Taylor
      November 17, 2023 at 2:23 pm

      Did you read my comment… We’re not the same team that we were when London cleaned out clocks,got us “crooked”,as you say …What makes you think that?…Well,after tonight,let’s have a little online pow-wow about that,and we’ll see what the verdict is,partner …And even if the Chiefs lose,a shutout ‘taint gon’ hap’n cap’n!…And,if you’re saying that about that 6’7″ lineman,well,he can’t be everywhere at all times…If Chris Fogan,Riley Neer,or Harper Scott gets one step on you,then it’s lights out bruh, they’re takin’ it to’da house baby!

      Reply
    • Aaron Taylor
      Aaron Taylor
      November 17, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      That’s what people said about London,that Chiefs shouldn’t have been on the same field …But,look,we beat them decisively,on part 1 of our revenge tour ..We got even with Granville last week,and now,Waterson,your next!…Only 8 quarters separate us from history,and Waterson,your not put out our quest to our final destination…So,move aside,the Chiefs are-a-comin!

      Reply
  4. Randy
    Randy
    November 17, 2023 at 2:46 pm

    Best of luck to the Chiefs! Make it your year!

    Reply
  5. Cindi H
    Cindi H
    November 17, 2023 at 6:43 pm

    The chiefs are TOTALLY out of their league. Watterson plays better and tougher teams. There’s just no comparison.

    Reply
    • Chiefs
      Chiefs
      November 17, 2023 at 11:20 pm

      Didn’t look like they were out of there league to me🤷‍♂️

      Reply
  6. Embarra**ed Logan Countian
    Embarra**ed Logan Countian
    November 17, 2023 at 7:12 pm

    Wow, people really? Bashing a local team? I don’t understand some people. Even if your not from Bellefontaine and are local to Logan County you should root for a team that represents Logan County. If this was Indian Lake or Ben Logan or whoever I would be rooting for them to win also. I’ve seen the best teams go down on any given night. So have some pride Logan County in our local team! Go Chiefs!!!

    Reply
  7. HasBeen
    HasBeen
    November 17, 2023 at 9:19 pm

    Even though the Chiefs lost tonight it was very obvious they certainly deserved to be on the same field with Bishop Watterson. Congratulations on a very successful and entertaining season.

    Reply
  8. All is well
    All is well
    November 17, 2023 at 10:28 pm

    Two great defensive teams tonight. Neither offense could find a rhythm.

    Reply

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