By STEVE HEMMELGARN, [email protected]

 

BELPRE - Nelsonville-York rolled up 362 yards on the ground, led by Derek Arnold's 254 yards and three touchdowns, as the visiting Buckeyes tallied the final 37 points in the last three quarters of the TVC game at Ralph Holder Stadium Friday night in routing Belpre, 43-7.

Arnold was the key for Nelsonville, now 5-1 and ranked No. 3 in Divison V, Region 19 in Ohio, with half of his 20 carries going for double-digit totals, including scampers of 52 and 47 yards. He scored three of the Buckeyes' first four TDs on dashes of 3, 6 and 2 yards.

The host Golden Eagles, now 2-4, actually held a 7-6 lead after one quarter, thanks to Erik Waderker's 30-yard TD reception from Clay Ullman at the 2:20 mark. Waderker snagged a pass in the middle of the field and got to the NY 10 before cutting outside and veering left into the end zone.

Belpre got a golden opportunity before the opening period ended when the Nelsonville punter's knee touched the ground retrieving a bad snap with the Golden Eagles getting the ball at the Buckeye 22. But a fourth-down pass fell incomplete to douse the Belpre opportunity at 11:11 of the second stanza.

John Logue's fumble recovery for Belpre at the Golden Eagle 7 staved off a Nelsonville threat at 9:36 of the second. But Arnold scored on a 6-yard pitch to the left at 5:33 and Isaiah Andrews added a 10-yard TD run on an inside counter at the 3:58 mark to up the margin to 22-7 at the half. Andrews' TD was set up by an interception by Chance Fox, who had another before the first half ended.

Seven plays into the second half and the score was 30-7 as Arnold banged two yards to paydirt at 8:39 of the third quarter.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, the Buckeyes pounced on a loose Belpre football at the Golden Eagle 15 to set up quarterback Michael Barrick's 1-yard plunge for six points at 7:22 of the third.

Belpre got one last chance when Markie Tate returned a punt 22 yards to the NY 23 at 3:50 of the third. But Tyler Watkins' 39-yard field-goal try at 2:07 had the distance, but was wide to the right.

Nelsonville tacked on its final TD with 2:33 left in the game on a 10-yard ramble into the end zone by Dustin Young.

For the game, Belpre was held to 59 yards rushing and 80 passing on 7-of-11 through the air by Ullman. Waderker and Logue each had two catches for 46 and 27 yards, respectively.