BELLBROOK — The Bellbrook Golden Eagles (2-8, 2-4) were able to end their season on a positive note by defeating the Milton-Union Bulldogs (6-4, 3-3) 17-14.

The score was closer than the game actually was, as the Bulldogs managed to score a late touchdown. The Eagles were also hurt by 13 penalties for a total of 107 yards.

“We just stuck together as a team,” Bellbrook’s senior QB Jay Bucher said. “That’s the definition of a team. We were able to stick together through adversity and make things happen.”

“It was just one of those nights where those things happen,” Bellbrook head coach Kevin Basinger said. “You’ve got to persevere and stick with it. I guess that has kind of been our motto all season. We just kept fighting.”

Bucher led his team from the start, going six of seven passing for 110 yards and running for 20 yards and a touchdown on the team’s first two possessions, with the touchdown giving them a 7-0 lead they would never lose. Bucher ended the game with 212 yards through the air and 70 on the ground with the one touchdown run.

“We talked about leaving everything on the field,” Bucher said, “that was our goal to walk out of here with our heads held high. We just came out and got it done.”

The Eagles were just as productive on defense. They prevented Milton-Union from achieving a first down until the 7:30 mark in the second quarter. They also forced two turnovers in the first quarter –including an interception by Mike Orzel, which he returned 20 yards for a touchdown – and had three sacks on the night.

“(The team) felt like they had something to prove tonight and they were just ready to go,” Basinger said. “I told them before the game they could’ve laid in the tank probably four or five times and made it miserable for everybody, but with the way things were going they showed a lot of character all season. They did a great job and I’m very proud of them.”

Along with Bucher, the Eagles were led by senior Kyle McKinniss who went over the century mark with 114 yards on five catches and senior Mike Morgan added five more catches for 68 yards, while senior Tommy Chitwood had 51 rushing yards on only six carries.

Milton-Union was led by Cory Warner with 62 yards on the ground and a 59 yard touchdown on a screen pass while Trent Warner added 51 receiving yards. Chris McCoy had 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air.

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Box score:

Score-by-quarter:

Milton-Union: 0 7 0 7 – 14

Bellbrook: 14 3 0 0 – 17

Individual statistics:

Rushing: (MUHS) Warner: 13, 62; Martin: 14, 39; McCoy: 10-14; (BHS) Bucher: 17, 70, 1; Chitwood: 6, 51; Greene: 7, 23

Passing: (MUHS) McCoy: 6-15, 124, 2, 1; Martin: 1-2, 4; (BHS) Bucher: 14-25, 212

Receiving: (MUHS) C. Warner: 1, 59, 1; G. Warner: 2, 51; (BHS) McKinnis: 5, 114; Morgan: 5, 68; Combs: 2, 15