By John Bombatch
FAIRBORN — In the loss last week, Fairborn was in the game at the half but a rash of bad snaps and turnovers led to a convincing loss in New Carlisle.
While Friday’s home loss wasn’t as convincing, it was chock full of bad snaps and turnovers once again. Bellbrook (2-0) took advantage of enough of those Skyhawk miscues to claim an 18-6 win.
Chandler Wren gained 153 yards on 26 carries and scored the game’s first TD for the Golden Eagles. Sophomore quarterback Brendan Labensky three a 31-yard scoring pass to Jack Campbell for one score, and ran 21 yards for another.
When Fairborn (0-2) wasn’t chasing bad snaps or fumbles, they were shooting themselves in the foot with penalties. Unofficially, the Skyhawks were flagged 13 times for 169 yards. The one that might’ve hurt the most came late in the game.
With less than three minutes left to play, Bellbrook had to punt from its own end zone. Punter Sam Fritz got off the punt and Fairborn was whistled for its second roughing the kicker penalty of the night. Apparently a personal foul was also called on the play, because the Golden Eagles went from punting out of their own end zone to having the ball 1st-and-10 on their own 40.
Bellbrook ran out the clock the rest of the way.
Fairborn quarterback Wesley Watts continued to have a solid season passing the ball, but threw his fourth interception of the season. Watts finished with 8-of-21 passing for 141 yards, unofficially.
Mistakes continued to haunt the Skyhawks in the first half. Numerous bad snaps from center led to either fumble recoveries deep in Fairborn territory or it would throw the offense’s timing off on the play. Either one wasn’t good for the Skyhawks.
Four bad snaps led to minus-17 yards rushing, an incomplete pass and a punt.
One errant pitchout led to another 12 yards lost.
Meanwhile, Bellbrook utilized an off-balanced line that seemed to perplex the Skyhawks defense. Bellbrook would overload a side of the line with more blockers than Fairborn had defenders, and they’d run their backs in that direction.
Wren was the biggest recipient of the off-balanced attack. The Golden Eagles senior running back amassed 105 yards on 15 carries and scored the game’s opening touchdown, a 31-yard run.
Neither team could manage an extra point in the first half. Bellbrook had a kick go awry on the first try, then failed on a two-point conversion pass try. Fairborn’s lone try of the first half was blocked by Rye Bennett.
Fairborn will host Beavercreek on Sept. 9 for its next contest. Bellbrook has a rare Thursday Sept. 8 game at home against the New Carlisle Tecumseh Indians.
Bellbrook 6 6 6 0 — 18
Fairborn 0 6 0 0 — 6
B — Chandler Wren 31 run (kick failed)
F — Christian Rountree 8 run (kick blocked) B — Jack Campbell 31 pass from Brendon Labensky (pass failed)
B — Jack Campbell 31 pass from Brendon Labensky (pass failed)
B — Labensky 21 run (pass failed)
