Bellbrook Golden Eagles reclaim season opener from Tippecanoe with late surge
The Golden Eagles avenged a previous season shutout with a 27-14 victory, driven by a second-half offensive surge and a dual-threat performance from senior Jack Kosins.
Bellbrook High School’s football program has begun its 2026 campaign with a decisive 27-14 victory over Tippecanoe High School at City Park Stadium. The result marks a significant reversal for the Golden Eagles, who were held to a 21-0 defeat by the Red Devils in the previous season’s opening fixture.
The contest was defined by Bellbrook’s ability to sustain momentum in the closing stages of the match. After Tippecanoe took a 14-13 lead early in the second half, the Golden Eagles responded with a lengthy drive that culminated in a seven-yard touchdown run by Kenton Gerdes with 11 minutes and 42 seconds remaining. Senior quarterback Grant Diorio subsequently completed a two-point conversion pass to Jack Kosins, extending Bellbrook’s lead to seven points.
Kosins, who plays both running back and linebacker, emerged as the pivotal figure in the final quarter. With 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the clock, the senior broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run along the sideline. Although a subsequent two-point conversion attempt fell short, the Bellbrook defence forced a turnover on downs 45 seconds later to seal the result.
Head coach Jeff Jenkins attributed the team’s cohesion to a cultural shift during pre-season preparation. Jenkins noted that the squad has evolved from a mere group into a family, a transformation he believes is essential for special teams.
“The connection of a group is everything,” Jenkins said. “Right now we have that connection, that bond. When you’ve got it, you’re going to have a special team.”
The victory addresses lingering frustration from the previous campaign, in which Bellbrook finished with a 6-5 record. Jenkins described the roster as senior-laden and driven by a collective desire to prove their capabilities after falling short of earlier goals.
Tippecanoe, who maintained an undefeated regular season the previous year while allowing no more than 14 points in any game, struggled to contain Bellbrook’s running attack. In last season’s opener, the Red Devils had limited the Golden Eagles to less than 50 rushing yards. This year, however, the offensive line and ball carriers found greater space, with Kosins scoring on a short run in the first half as well as his late-game touchdown.
