photo by: Kim North

Bellaire’s Jayden Martin (20) tackles Union Local’s Ayden Graham (23) during Friday night’s action at Jets Stadium in Morristown. The Jets snapped a 13-all deadlock by scoring the final 25 points for a 38-13 triumph over the Big Reds.

MORRISTOWN – You can only keep a standout running back bottled up for so long. Fortunately for Union Local, that trend continued Friday night to make Homecoming even sweeter.

Brody Perzanowski had just 91 hard-earned yards on his first 20 carries. However, the junior totalled 160 stripes and three touchdowns on his last five totes – all in the fourth quarter – as Union Local (7-2) pulled away from visiting Bellaire, 38-13, on the natural grass surface at Jets Stadium, likely clinching an Ohio Division V, Region 19 playoff berth.

Perzanowski set a new program record for career touchdowns with his 41st – a 39-yard scamper off the right side of his line that capped the scoring with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter. He also had TD runs of 70 and 41 in the final 12 minutes and finished with 251 on 25 attempts.

“In the first half I didn’t perform like I knew I could. My line was blocking alright, I just didn’t have my vision right,” Perzanowski said. “I knew if I wasn’t going to do anything, then my team wasn’t, so I took it upon myself.”

Bellaire had drawn even at 13 late in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by quarterback Michael Dippel and Scott Balsei’s placement.

However, after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Union Local sideline following a Bellaire punt, the Jets were backed up at their own 30. It didn’t take long for the Jets to take off. On the first snap. Perzanowski took a handoff from quarterback Colby Carpenter and sprinted untouched to the promised land for a 19-13 lead.

“It was pretty electric. My fullback (Kolten Snyder) was blocking. My line was blocking and my receivers were blocking. It was perfection,” he added. That line included Konnor Kovacs, Logan Webb, Johnny Hercules, Brady Hunt and John Kovacs while Brody Kerns and Max Duncan were other key figures.

After forcing the Big Reds to punt, Perzanowski scampered 41 yards as the lead increased to 25-13. Following a 38-yard interception return by Blake Butkus put the Jets ahead 31-13, Perzanowski capped his outstanding quarter with a 39-yard burst, also off the right side.

Perzanowski, who entered the game as Union Local’s all-time leading rusher with 4,126 career yards, padded that stat with his performance. His 41 touchdowns on the ground broke the mark of 40 set by Jaksan Price.

“Records and milestones don’t mean anything to me yet … sure it’s cool to have your name in the record books, but if you’re not winning it doesn’t mean anything.”

Union Local head coach Bernie Thompson wasn’t surprised by Perzanowski’s outing.

“He’s special … special,” Thompson said, shaking his head. “I’m not only impressed with how hard he runs, but I’m more impressed by what type of young man that he is. He is a leader and one of our best teammates. That’s a powerful combination.”

Union Local jumped out to a 13-0 lead on a 52-yard pass from Carpenter to Duncan and a 3-yard run by Snyder. Gavin Fowkes booted one PAT.

However, Bellaire (3-6) battled back in the third quarter but couldn’t contain the Jets in the fourth.

Union Local piled up 396 yards of offense, with 295 coming on the ground. Carpenter was 6-for-11 for 101 yards and the aforementioned TD.

Defensively, the Jets held the Big Reds to under 150 yards of total offense (141) as Dipple completed 12 of 17 for 101, a touchdown and the interception. However, Bellaire could only manage 40 yards on 33 carries and fumbles five times, losing three.

Both teams finish the regular season with rivalry games as Bellaire hosts Martins Ferry in their first-ever night game clash at Nelson Field on Friday for the coveted SPARKY Trophy, Union Local welcomes western Belmont County rival Barnesville in the Milk Bucket Game.