ODA football falls to Bell Creek Academy at home

Things started well for The Out-of-Door Academy football team (3-3) Oct. 7 against Bell Creek Academy (2-3). 

Getting the ball first, the Thunder marched down the field with a drive punctuated with sophomore running back Allen Clark's one-yard touchdown run. After the extra point was partially blocked, resulting in a miss, ODA led 6-0. 

Bell Creek responded with a touchdown drive of its own, finished with a short run by senior Manny Zelaya. Instead of kicking an extra point, Bell Creek attempted a two-point conversion and was successful, with senior quarterback Davis Quin'Darryn scrambling and finding Zelaya in the corner of the end zone. 

It appeared the game was destined to be a shootout. Instead, neither team would score another point: Bell Creek walked away with an 8-6 victory. The Thunder did get within field goal range for senior kicker Mika Levy in the second quarter, but the 47-yard kick was blocked. Bell Creek also threatened to score on one additional drive, but was stopped on fourth and goal. 

The ODA offense was hampered by injuries. Already down several starters, the Thunder lost Clark and sophomore Max Polivchak, a starting offensive lineman, which slowed the team's running game. 

"Those guys are difference-makers for us," ODA Head Coach Rob Hollway said. "So that hurt us. We're going to have to move some guys around. I said at the beginning of the year, we're a team that has a chance if we stay healthy. When you're a team with 40 guys on the roster, even one injury — especially a starting guard or a starting tailback — is hard." 

Hollway said he was proud of the way his defense stayed stout through the offense's struggles but was more critical of his special teams unit, saying that the blocked kicks were "disappointing" and affected the game's outcome.