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Simoniette, Belpre Eagles upend Eastern

Belpre running back Isaac Tullius is dragged down by Eastern’s Nate Durst in the first quarter of the Golden Eagles’ 25-20 victory at Ralph Holder Stadium Friday night. Photo by Tom Perry.

BELPRE — Belpre’s Senior Night was saved by a freshman.

In just his second start of the season, Brandon Simoniette guided a six-play, 47-yard drive that he capped with a 3-yard, hard-fought touchdown run with 15.9 seconds to play that gave the Goldent Eagles a 25-20 victory over Eastern in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division contest at Ralph Holder Stadium.

“All week I kept thinking that I’m a freshman who’s going to be starting at quarterback on Senior Night,” said the 6-foot, 150-pound Simoniette. “I knew I had to do something on that third-down play and the lane opened up and I got into the end zone.”

Belpre coach Greg Adams was ecstatic by the play of his quarterback.

“That’s how a leader is supposed to play,” Adams said. “I don’t care if he’s a freshman. The quarterback has to be a leader.”

Simoniette had played a solid game on a muddy field with a steady rain, but that final drive was something to remember. He also connected with fellow freshman Logan Adams on a 19-yard catch and run that took the ball down to the Eastern (4-5, 2-4) 11.

On the next play, Tojzae Reams almost punched it in for the go-ahead score but he was pushed out at the 1. He was stuffed for a 2-yard loss on the next play, and then Simoniette’s pass for Deijon Bedgood was nearly picked off. But on third-and-3, Simoniette couldn’t find anyone to throw to and he turned up field and bulled his way in for the g, 25-20me-winning score.

“That shows a lot of guts by this team,” Coach Adams said. “We could have tucked our tails between our legs and given up, but we didn’t. We only had half the field to score and we did it.”

It was Logan Adams who put Belpre in great field position after he grabbed the kickoff at the 27 and broke tackles and slipped by others to get the ball to the Eastern 47.

“That was huge and he also had that big catch,” Simoniette said.

Belpre (4-5, 4-3) seemed to put the game out of reach when Ryan Simoniette slipped past two Eastern defenders for a 12-yard touchdown. With the Golden Eagles leading 19-7 with 6:30 remaining in regulation it looked like Belpre was going to get an easy win.

However, Eastern’s senior quarterback Jett Facemyer completed three passes for 32 yards and he carried the ball twice for 28 yards, including a 20-yard run for a touchdown just 1:24 later. With the score cut to 19-14, Belpre went three-and-out. Brandon Simoniette booted a punt 51 yards and pinned the Eagles back at their own 6.

It didn’t matter, though.

Facemyer went back to work and five plays later he broke through the Belpre defense for a 65-yard touchdown that lifted the Eagles into its first lead since scoring first in the opening quarter. Eastern’s pass on the point after failed and led 20-19.

“Everybody still believed we were going win,” Coach Adams said. “That was a very nice win for our team, and I’m glad our seniors could get a win in their final game at home.”

If Belpre is going to finish the season with a .500 record the Golden Eagles will have to pull off an upset at 8-1 Waterford this Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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