After giving up a combined 417 passing yards to Springfield Shawnee and Jonathan Alder over the last two weeks, Bellefontaine’s defense is hoping to regroup as it prepares to face the top throwing team in the Central Buckeye Conference on Friday.
The Chiefs (4-3, 0-2) will host Kenton Ridge (4-3, 0-2) for a homecoming contest that features a pair of teams looking to stop two-game losing streaks.
The Cougars are coming off losses to Jonathan Alder and London, while Bellefontaine dropped games to Shawnee and Alder in the past two contests.
Bellefontaine’s biggest concern defensively is limiting big plays through the air. The Chiefs held Jonathan Alder’s rushing attack to 86 yards on 31 carries last week, but allowed the Pioneers 188 yards and three touchdowns via the pass.
“There is no magic potion,” said Bellefontaine head coach Toby Smith. “We just have to be in the right spots and get better at our jobs.”
Kenton Ridge will challenge the Chieftain defense with the quarterback-receiver duo of Dylan Lemen and Calvin Dibert.
A 5-11, 165-pound senior, Lemen has been a three-year starter for the Cougars at quarterback. He currently leads the CBC in passing yards with 1,275. He has completed 67-of-115 passes and has recorded 13 touchdowns. He has been picked off 12 times.
A dual threat, Lemen ranks second in the league in rushing with 899 yards and 11 touchdowns on 108 carries.
A 6-4, 200-pound senior, Dibert is the CBC’s leading receiver with 701 yards and eight TDs on 25 catches.
“They are explosive offensively,” said Smith. “It’s the same kids we’ve seen the last few years. They have a veteran offense with some talented play makers.”
On the offensive side of the ball, the Chiefs’ focus is to cut down on mistakes. They turned the ball over three times in last Friday’s 31-21 loss to Alder.
“We can’t afford to turn the ball over,” said Smith. “We have to take advantage of our scoring opportunities and not stop ourselves.”