Bellaire High School
Big Reds Will Lean On Returning Talent In 2023
Trending
BELLAIRE -- Mark Bonar's first season at the helm of Bellaire started off slow, but once the Big Reds got hot, they turned things around
Bellaire got off to an 0-2 beginning and were 1-3 at one point before reeling off victories in five of its final six regular-season contests to go 6-4 and finish third in Division VI. After dropping a decision at St. Clairsville in Week 7, the Big Reds ran off three consecutive wins to end the regular season and pile up some momentum heading into the postseason.
That momentum carried over as the Big Reds gained home playoff wins against Galion Northmor and Worthington Christian before blanking one-loss Nelsonville-York, 20-0, in Duncan Falls. However, a late push against Fort Frye in the regional finals at Maysville High School fell short in a 35-28 setback.
"We lost a big senior class that had good careers," Bonar said. "They were some great kids that really came on strong down the stretch of last season."
Lost to graduation were Ray Ray Pettigrew, Jakob Dowling, Jake Heatherington, Brayden Roth, Joey Lewis, Lucas Littell, Chance Maffe, Tyler Vingia, Brenton Nauman, Terrin Frazier, T.J. Wines, Tyler Collins, Isaac Salva, Braylon Kinder and Talon Hughes. Pettigrew continued his career at the University of Findlay while Heatherington will play baseball at Baldwin Wallace University.
Coach Mark Bonar on the upcoming season
Roth became the school's all-time leading rusher with more than 2,000 career yards, but was honored as a third-team linebacker.
Pettigrew was a first team all-Ohioan as a wide receiver, while Kinder was second-team offensive lineman and Littell honorable mention offensive line. Roth was third team linebacker and Heatherington honorable mention at quarterback.
"Despite losing all those kids, we've got a lot of experience returning and we've got coaches who know all the players, including me," he continued.
"So we know what to expect. We've got a lot of talented kids that we can utilize in a variety of ways."
Bellaire returns eight starters on the offensive side of the ball, including five who have earned two letters already. Ten players are back on the defensive side, with many names being the same.
Leading the offensive returners are 2-year lettermen in tailback Drew White (6-0, 180) and fullback Chickie LaMotte (6-1, 175), along with wideout Khalil Kimbro (5-11, 145), tight end Logan Edgar (6-2, 170) and tackle Dalton Smelko (5-10, 230). Earning letters last fall were tackle Joey Nixon (6-0, 150), tight end Jason Lemley (6-5, 225) and wide receiver Luca D'Aquilla (5-11, 175).
On the defensive side, safety Mac Mac Pettigrew (5-10, 155) is a 2-year letterman, as are Edgar (LB), White (DE), Kimbro (CB), LaMotte (DE) and Smelko (DT). Lettering last season were Lemley (LB), junior defensive tackle Brody Holt (6-1, 215) and junior cornerback Maurice Webb (6-0, 165) and linebacker Graham Campbell (5-9, 165) who lettered as a freshman.
"Last year we struggled early on. We, as coaches, had to learn who could play what position and we had to move a lot of kids around until we found the right combination," Bonar explained. "We didn't do a good job early on, but there were some kids out there that I didn't even know their name," he stressed. "Around the middle of the season things started to come together," he continued. "We were able to put some stuff in on offense and defense after we got the right personnel in the right places."
While there are a few pieces to still be put into place before the season opener on Aug. 18 at Garaway, Bonar is pleased with where his team is at this point of camp.
"I feel really good about things," he noted. "We've got a lot of experience returning, so, as coaches, we just need to stay out of the kids' way and let them play."
Lucas Heatherington (6-1, 160) will inherit the quarterback reins from his older brother. He saw limited varsity action last season, but is more than ready to step in and take over.
"I think it was very beneficial for Lucas to watch what Jake did last year because we are doing the same things this season," Bonar acknowledged. "He was around last year when we started putting in some new stuff."
Bonar said that Heatherington learned a lot during JV action.
"We played every reserve game except one and we had some scrimmages during the playoffs, so these kids coming up have already seen a lot of action. It's not like they are coming into the season without any preparation."
Behind Heatherington is freshman Michael Dippel (5-11, 145).
Roth's departure leaves White as the go-to guy in the backfield. LaMotte will be primarily used as a blocker, but he has shown glimpses of excitement and can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Other running backs listed include juniors Braden Beckett (5-10, 145) and Ky Whitlach (5-9, 150); sophomore Alex Ney (5-8, 140); and freshmen Rylin McMahon (5-8, 130) and Trevor Dowery (5-8, 140).
D'Aquilla is the most experienced wideout returning, but Mac Mac Pettigrew and Kimbro are also quality targets. Webb is also a threat while junior Landon Preston (5-8, 160) and sophomore Quentin Scott (5-10, 155) both lettered last fall.
Also listed as wide receivers are seniors Austin Wiggins (5-9, 155) and Lane Clark (6-1, 140); juniors Riley Robbins (5-8, 130), Grant Vasey (5-8, 130) and Hunter Watson (5-10, 135); sophomores Scott Balsei (5-8, 145), Jayden Martin (5-7, 140), Gavin Alloway (5-6, 110), Collin Snider (5-10, 155) and Kain Shepherd (5-6, 110); and freshmen Alex Padgett (6-0, 160), James Porco (5-7, 130), Robert Orum (5-9, 140), Raekwon Pettigrew (6-0, 160), Cole Gonglik (5-8, 135) and Nathan Wiggington (5-8, 130).
The tight end position is in good hands with Edgar and Campbell. Lemley and sophomores Kory Davis (6-2, 180) and Noah Pramik (6-1, 175) are also big targets.
The offensive front is where Bonar has concerns as losing guys like Kinder, Littell and Vingia hurt.
"They might be the three toughest players to replace," Bonar admitted. "They were rock solid for us. They all did a tremendous job."
He and his staff will call upon Smelko, Nixon and Holt to lead the charges.
Three other linemen earned letters last year in juniors Kolten Henthorn (6-2, 300) and Keegan Davis (6-0, 190); and sophomore Kayse Rejonis (5-10, 230). Also vying for playing time are senior David Murphy (5-10, 150); junior Jayden Powell (6-4, 300); sophomores Jacob Craig (5-9, 185), Stephen Bell (6-0, 220), Mason Palenicek (6-2, 220) and Brett Pfalzgraf (5-8, 320); and freshmen Dalton Baker (5-8, 230) and Ethan Dodd (5-9, 210).
Defensively, the Big Reds will employ a 4-4 look and have returnees at every level.
White and LaMotte are both quality ends with Smelko and Holt holding down the tackle spots.
Other linemen listed are Nixon, Rejonis, Henthorn, Davis, Craig, Murphy, Baker, Bell, Powell, Palenicek, Dodd and Pfalzgraf.
Campbell and Beckett are the outside linebackers, with Edgar and Lemley in the middle. Others are Pramik, Dowry, Davis, Ney, Dippel and McMahon.
Bonar is really excited about his secondary as Mac Mac Pettigrew returns at safety and Webb and Kimbro at the corners. D'Aquilla and Raekwon Pettigrew are also vying for time.
Other defensive backs include Padgett, Wiggins, Preston, Porco, Robbins, Vasey, Clark, Scott, Orum, Balsei, Martin, Watson, Gonglik, Alloway, Snider, Whitlach, Shepherd and Wiggington.
"These kids have gotten a lot stronger over the summer. I credit our strength coaches with the success we've had because of the work in the weight room," Bonar praised of the work Mike Sechrest and Tom Tuttle have done. "They have done a great job and you really can't believe the improvements the kids have made.
As far as special teams, Bonar knows one thing.
"We've got to get better on our kicking game ... punting, place kicking and kicking off," he stressed. "Our kick offs need to be deeper. If you can't kick the ball deep, then the defense can't keep the opposition down there."
The coach said that either Heatherington or Kimbro would do the punting, with Lemley holding down the kicking and placements.
"We have plenty of speedy return guys. I'm not worried there," Bonar said.
There are only two changes on the Big Red's 2023 schedule as Barnesville replaces Bishop Tonos from Canada and East Liverpool takes the place of Wheeling Central.
In addition to the aforementioned Sechrest and Tuttle, Bonar is assisted by Bailey McGrath, Ryan McMahon, Ben Doyle, Ty Masciarelli, Adam Quirk, Clint Lekanudos, Matt Porter and Casey Davis who has taken over for Zach Musilli.
Bellaire will play home games against the aforementioned Shamrocks, Cambridge, St. Clairsville, the aforementioned Potters and arch-rival Martins Ferry. All home games are played on Saturday's at 12:30 p.m. at Nelson Field. In addition to the season-opener, away trips are scheduled at Fort Frye, Shadyside, Indian Creek and Union Local.