By Bill Templeton
Sports Writer
Bell County’s defense made more stops than an eight-sided red sign Friday night at Dudley Hilton Field in a 28-12 victory over visiting Perry County Central.
Facing an opposing team that had averaged 270 rushing yards through its first three games, Bell County stifled the Commodores’ ground attack and surrendered just 114 stripes to improve to 3-1.
The Bobcats made it especially tough on standout Perry freshman Kaiden Gibson, who entered the game with 391 rushing yards on just 36 carries through the Commodores’ first three games. Gibson finished with 70 overland yards on 19 carries.
Led by junior Kaleb Miller’s 138-yard rushing performance and 61 yards by junior quarterback Blake Burnett, the Bobcats rolled up 251 yards via the ground and 328 total yards.
Bell opened the scoring early in the second quarter on a methodical 14-play drive that spanned 98 yards following an interception by junior Joseph Brigmon.
Burnett completed two passes during the scoring march, including a 23-yard reception by Miller and a 25-yard reception by freshman Logan Greene. The drive was capped on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Blake Evans.
A 32-yard field goal by Perry senior Beau Bakun put the Commodores on the scoreboard, but the Bobcats and Burnett responded with an 11-play, 65-yard drive that Miller punctuated with a 2-yard TD run.
Burnett’s two-point conversion run staked Bell to a 14-3 lead at halftime.
Following homecoming festivities during the intermission, Bell County’s swarming defense stymied Gibson and the Commodores on an opening drive that was culminated on a 28-yard field goal by Bakun.
After turning the Bobcats over on downs on the ensuing drive, Gibson rushed eight times for 32 yards to push the Commodores inside Bell’s 5-yard line. On fourth down from the 1-yard line, Gibson appeared the kick the end zone pylon with his left foot, but the officials denied the touchdown.
Enter Burnett.
The Bobcats’ signal caller drove his team 99 yards on an 11-play drive that featured runs of 29 and 36 yards by Miller and was capped on a 26-yard scoring run by Burnett, who eluded and evaded several would-be tacklers en route to paydirt. Miller’s conversion run made it, 22-6.
Perry responded on the ensuing drive with a 9-yard scoring strike from junior Aaron Johnson to senior Derrick Fields.
A failed onside kick by Perry set up the Bobcats at the Commodores’ 44-yard line, and a 29-yard run by Evans pushed Bell inside the red zone.
Two plays later, Miller ambled in from 8 yards to cap the scoring.
Burnett completed four of his 10 pass attempts for 77 yards. Brigmon (10 yards) and Evans (19 yards) collected the other two pass receptions for Bell.
Johnson completed 10 of his 16 second-half pass attempts and finished with an 11-for-19 performance and 153 aerial yards.
Bell was credited with 18 first downs and the two teams combined for almost 200 yards in penalties.
Bell will play the second of three straight home games Friday when it hosts Whitley County.

 

Bell County 28, Perry County Central 12
Perry County Central 0 3 3 6 – 12
Bell County 0 14 0 14 – 28
Evans 1 run (pass failed)
Bakun 32 field goal
Miller 2 run (Burnett run)
Bakun 28 field goal
Burnett 26 run (Miller run)
Fields 9 pass from Johnson (pass failed)
Miller 8 run (pass failed)