WATERFORD - Sophomore running back Manney Tullius accumulated 193 rushing yards, 51 receiving yards and 60 passing yards to lead Belpre over Waterford 27-0 in a Tri Valley Conference matchup Friday.
The Wildcats were held to just 45 total yards on the night, as Belpre's defensive front seven was able to get penetration all throughout the game.
The Golden Eagles wasted no time getting things going, as Tullius broke away for a 49 yard touchdown run on Belpre's first play from scrimmage.
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JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Belpre’s Manney Tullius looks to pick up yardage against Waterford Friday night.
Later in the first quarter, Tullius struck again, this time as a receiver. Freshman quarterback Tavian Miller dropped back and hit Tullius from 46 yards out for the score, and after Jamie Barrett connected on the PAT, the Golden Eagles led 13-0.
With 10:54 remaining in the second quarter, Tullius hit the trifecta. With a rushing and receiving touchdown already under his belt, the sophomore took a pitch from Miller and found a wide open Cody Martin up the right sideline. Martin found the endzone from 60 yards out and Barrett's PAT put Greg Adams-coached Belpre up 20-0.
Waterford had a chance to take a chunk out of the lead with 5:46 remaining in the half. The Tom Tucker-led Wildcats faced a fourth and eight situation at Belpre's 20 yard line, but senior quarterback Devon Patterson was sacked to end the scoring threat.
Fact Box
Belpre 27, Waterford 0
Belpre (4-6) 13 7 7 0 - 27
Waterford (2-8) 0 0 0 0 - 0
First quarter:
B- Manny Tullius 49 run, kick failed, 10:15
B- Tullius 46 pass from Tavian Miller, Jamie Barrett kick, 4:35
Second quarter:
B- Cody Martin 60 pass from Tullius, Barrett kick, 10:54
Third quarter:
B- Tullius 60 run, Barrett kick, 9:39
Team stats: Rushing: Belpre: 32-187; Waterford: 34-16; Passing: Belpre: 3-7-111-0; Waterford: 2-7-29-0; Total yards: Belpre: 298; Waterford: 45; First downs: Belpre: 9; Waterford: 5; Penalties/yds: Belpre: 10/90; Waterford: 2/30; Fumbles/lost: Belpre: 1/1; Waterford: 2/2
Individual stats: Rushing: Belpre: Tullius 19-193, 2tds; Nate Teeters 4-15; Waterford: Jacob Stewart 4-27; Austin Lang 17-22; Jaret McCutcheon 2-1; Passing: Belpre: Miller 2-6-51-0, 1td; Tullius 1-1-60-0, 1td; Waterford: Devon Patterson 1-5-3-0; Austin Lang 1-1-26-0; Receiving: Belpre: Martin 1-60, 1td; Tullius 2-51, 1td; Waterford: Wyatt Porter 2-29
Belpre went into halftime with a 20-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles tacked on some insurance with 9:39 remaining in the third quarter. It was Tullius again, running up the left sideline from 60 yards out to make it 27-0 in favor of Belpre.
Tullius said the key to his individual success was very clear.
"Execution on offense," he said. "The line blocked. The receivers blocked. They gave me an open field to run in."
"Manny is seeing the field very well," Adams said. "Our blocking has improved. As Manny will tell you, it all starts up front with the linemen."
Adams also said he is very excited about the future of the team.
"If we do the fundamentals right, if we tackle and block, we're gonna be a pretty good football team for the next couple years," Adams said. "That's what we're looking at here."
The Golden Eagles finished the season at 4-6, a year after going winless.
As for the Wildcats, the loss dropped them to 2-8 in what was an injury-riddled 2012 campaign.
"Injuries really hurt us," Tucker said. "Our kids played hard, and that's all you can say. Our seniors were a good group of seniors. They never quit on us. Even through injuries at key spots, our guys kept playing and that's all you can ask for."
