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Beallsville Marching on With 12 Gridders

BEALLSVILLE — The Beallsville High football program is hanging on by a thread.

The Blue Devils opened the campaign in August with 15 players. When Coach Larry Deem’s charges suited up for this past Friday’s game against Linsly, that number had dropped to 13 due to injuries.

As fate would have it, two more Blue Devils left the game against the Cadets with injuries. Both failed to return. One hurt a collarbone, the other an ankle.

Consequently, Beallsville finished the mercy-rule game with 11 healthy players. The Blue Devils played one snap with 10 as one member was temporarily shaken up.

Low numbers have been the case since Deem came to the rescue late last summer. Beallsville — dogged by rumors of the possible school closing and student defections to surrounding districts — was on the brink of having no football program last fall.

More than 100 students have left the Beallsville school system for surrounding districts due to uncertainty.

Deem stepped in, rallied the troops, amassing 14 players and making it through the season, finishing games with just 10 players on more than one occasion.

The possibility of no football team last year resulted in teams dropping the Blue Devils from their 2015 card. Then-Athletics Director Chris Pagano, to his credit, was able to manufacture schedules for 2015 and 2016. Unfortunately, those cards had several teams Beallsville had no business playing, such as Ohio juggernaut Marion Local.

Deem remains undaunted in his quest to restore Beallsville to past gridiron glory. He said Monday night in a phone interview that his Devils will have enough players for Friday’s Homecoming game with Lutheran East.

“We will dress 12 for Friday’s game,” Deem said. “That will probably be the highest number we will have the remainder of the season. But we will get it done.”

After Lutheran East, Beallsville closes the season with games against Toronto, Wheeling Central, Conotton Valley and Hannan. The first two will again be brutal tests while the latter two will be games Beallsville can be very competitive in.

There is reason for optimism down the road.

The Blue Devils have seven freshmen and just two seniors on their roster. Moreover, the junior high team has seven eighth-graders. If everything falls in place, Deem is looking at a squad of at least 20 in 2017.

Just as importantly, the schedule is undergoing a beneficial makeover.

Longtime athletics director Delmas Moore has returned to those duties. There is no more passionate or hard-working Blue Devil than Moore. He is a great ambassador for the school and brings a solid presence as overseer of the athletic department.

Moore has already began scripting a football schedule much more in tune with the current state of Beallsville football. It will take another year or two to get the schedule to his total liking.

The 2017 slate will add Paden City and Bridgeport for starters. Wheeling Central leaves the schedule and possibly Division II Vincent Warren Local.

While Beallsville fell victim to Linsly by a 44-6 count, the Blue Devils did earn the respect of Cadets classy head coach B.J. Depew.

“Beallsville football is going to make it. They have tough kids,” he said.

BUBBA’S BITS

∫ Wheeling Park coach Chris Daugherty is one who is always teaching life lessons. His players have had obvious success on the field and they’re definitely doing their job off the field, too. When Park plays host to St. Albans on Friday night, it is partnering with Helping Heroes in a “Football for Food” Drive. All fans are being asked to bring either non-perishable items, toiletries, cleaning supplies or grocery store/restaurant gift cards. All of the donations will be turned over to the veteran families in the Ohio Valley.

∫ The shocking and tragic death of Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez in a boating accident Sunday is a reminder that we must appreciate every day.

∫ Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz proved Sunday he is the real deal. The rookie QB peppered the Steelers defense for 301 yards and two TD passes. Also in that game for the victorious Eagles, former WVU running back Wendell Smallwood rushed for 79 yards and his first career TD.

∫ Kudos go out to Wheeling Park quarterback Cross Wilkinson for establishing a school record for career TD passes (37). The talented and classy junior has two Division I offers already — Toledo and Marshall. It goes without saying, many more will follow.

∫ Weirton Madonna product Ross Comis again sat out UMass’s game against Mississippi State as he is still nursing injuries. He started the Minutemen’s first two games before being injured, missing the last two contests. Comis played extremely well in the opening-season loss at Florida.

∫ Although prep football is just entering its sixth week, basketball is not too far in the offing. Official girls’ hoop practice begins in Ohio one month from today.

∫ Notre Dame football is in a state of disarray. The Fighting Irish are 1-3. Losing to Texas and Michigan State is one thing. Falling at home to Duke is not palatable for ND partisans. Head coach Brian Kelly responded by firing his defensive coordinator. Kelly, hired by ND in 2009, may be wearing out his welcome. It would be prudent for him to pursue a new coaching venue.

Bubba Kapral can be reached via email at: bkapral@timesleaderonline.com

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