Advertisement

The loss drops the Eagles to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the Ski Valley Conference, which means they will now have to win out to make the playoffs. Their conference title hopes are still alive as well, with games against Central Lake and Mancelona still on the schedule.

"All our (season) goals are still there," Bellaire head coach Jeff Hebden said after the game. "But we've got to make big plays."

Bellaire made plenty of big plays early in the game on Friday, as senior quarterback Ryan Hebden connected with split end Brad Guy for scoring strikes of nine and 16 yards. With 5:24 to go in the first quarter, Bellaire had already staked themselves to a 14-0 lead on 158 yards of total offense.

But just when it looked like Inland Lakes (3-3, 3-2 SVC) would find no answer for Hebden and Guy, the Bulldogs responded with the first of their three touchdowns of over 60 yards, a 76-yard completion up the middle from Doug Elliott to Jacob Osier.

Bellaire responded with a 79-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 17-yard touchdown scamper from Sean Payne.

The score stood at 21-6 in favor of Bellaire with 3:08 to go in the half, but things would quickly fly south for the Eagles.

Inland Lakes took only four plays and 1:24 to go 72 yards for a touchdown, this time on a 62-yard run to the right by Osier.

The Bulldogs then recovered an onside kick to retain possession and scored on their third play from scrimmage, a 33-yard pass from Alexander Holton to Brandon Southwell. Suddenly, the score was 21-18.

The crucial series of the game came at the end of the third quarter with Bellaire still ahead 21-18. The Eagles stuffed the Bulldogs on first-and-goal from the one and forced an incomplete pass on second down. But on third down, with the lead and momentum at stake, it was Inland Lakes that finally made the big play as Elliott found Southwell in the end zone for a touchdown.Ê

The Bulldogs added another touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 63-yard pass from Holton to Southwell.

Bellaire marched into the red zone twice in the fourth quarter, but both drives were ended with turnovers.

"We've got to take advantage of our opportunities and make big plays," coach Hebden said. "It boils down to making plays when you got Ôem, and if you don't then you don't win."

Bellaire will head north on M-88 Friday night to take on the Central Lake Trojans (5-1, 41 SVC).

At a glance

Inland LakesÊ 6Ê 12Ê 6Ê 8_24

BellaireÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 14Ê 7Ê 0Ê 0_21

RUSHING (atts-yds-tds)_Inland Lakes, Holton 22-101, Osier 12-79-1, August 7-50, Beebe 1-7, Elliott 3-(minus 1). Bellaire, Jones 8-63, Rames 4-33, Payne 3-19-1, Hebden 714, Bueby 5-13, Guy 1-(minus 4).

RECEIVING_Inland Lakes, Southwell 4-26-3, 2-81-1, Holton 2-7. Bellaire, Guy 8-213-2, Rames 1-21, Payne 2-12, Kowatch 1-10, Dewey 1-9, Bueby 1-7.

PASSING (comp-atts-yds-tds)_Inland Lakes, Elliott 6-10-118-2, Holton 2-2-96-2. Bellaire, Hebden 14-31-272-2, Shuler 0-1.

TACKLES (solo, asst)_Inland Lakes, no data. Bellaire, Dewey 3-8, Tipton 0-9, Hebden 27, Jones 2-6, Bailey 0-7, Guy 3-3, Evans 0-6, Hoalt 1-5, Conkle 2-2, Payne 1-2, Bueby 2-1, Steiner 1-2, Rames 2-1, Warner 0-1, Brown 1-0.ÊÊÊ