Bell-Jeff’s Offense Stalls!

However, the Bell-Jeff offense couldn’t find its rhythm Saturday in a Northeast Division quarterfinal game.

Luckily for the Guards, their defense kept them in the game early, but it found itself on the field for long stretches of the second half, as the Lions ended Bell-Jeff’s season with a 26-0 victory at Memorial Field.

“Linfield is a good ball club, but we’re better than 26-0,” said Guards Coach Rolando Aguirre about his opponent that won the Big Sky League.

Linfield Christian (10-2) scored on its first possession to start the contest. Quarterback Jason Moralez got things rolling, as he guided the Lions 67 yards on eight plays, finding Justin Carter on a 19-yard pass to put the Guards behind with 6:41 remaining in the first half.

The Bell-Jeff (8-4) offense moved the ball well in the second quarter with a long drive deep into Lions’ territory. The drive would prove fruitless, however, as Linfield Christian’s Colin MacKichan stepped in front of a Daniel Radoccia pass, intercepting the ball and ending the scoring threat, leaving the Lions with a 6-0 advantage at the half.

The Lions scored on their first possession of the second half on a five-yard MacKichan run, but failed on the 2-point conversion with 6:54 left in the third quarter.

With desperation starting to set in and down, 12-0, Bell-Jeff again drove the ball into the red zone with the help of a Linfield Christian personal foul and several strong runs by senior running back Bronson Ketchum.

However, a holding call on the Guards at the 9-yard line, followed by three incomplete passes, kept the Guards off the scoreboard.

Moralez again found Carter with a nine-yard strike to extend the lead to 19-0 midway through the fourth quarter.

Daniel Musquiz added the final blow with a four-yard touchdown run with 3:07 remaining in the game.

Moralez, who threw for 199 yards and two scores, drew high praise from Aguirre.

“That kid is nails. We didn’t play well, but it was their quarterback’s play that won the game for them,” he said. “Penalties and a few bad calls stifled some drives, which kind of strapped us.”

Radoccia, a senior, threw for 83 yards and ran for an additional 76. Ketchum added 59 yards in 13 carries.

Aguirre said his team — which placed second in the Santa Fe League — should be proud of its effort against a strong Linfield Christian team.

“We have nothing to be ashamed about,” he said. “but we can’t be satisfied with just winning one playoff game.”

Bell-Jeff won its CIF playoff opener Nov. 21, defeating host Fairmont Prep, 28-21.

By Kristopher Wayne - Photo: Dan Watson / The Leader -