Bristol’s Bell tolls for Delco Christian
BRISTOL — The Bristol Warriors went into Friday night’s homecoming battle against Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) rival Delaware County Christian School thinking of last year’s loss to the Knights. A close game at the intermission turned into a rout in the second half, thanks to some big plays by Bristol senior quarterback Parker Kelley and junior running back Eric Bell.
A three-year varsity player, Bell turned the game in the home team’;s favor by rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown in the second half to help lift Bristol to a 33-13 victory and a measure of revenge against the visiting Knights.
“They beat us pretty bad last year,” Bell said. “So we came out tonight looking for revenge.”
Bell’s biggest run of the night couldn’t have come at a better time for Bristol, which was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half. With the Warriors (4-2, 2-1: BAL) still clinging to that five-point lead, he raced around right end then cut back left for a 33-yard gainer that gave Bristol the ball at the 32. Three plays later, Kelley tossed his second TD pass of the night to Samir Brisbon, this one good for 16 yards, giving the home team a little breathing room.
Still, the Knights (2-5, 1-3) did everything in their power to try and win this one, including opting for a fake punt on their first possession of the game and an onside kick to start the second half.
While Bristol’s offense piled on the points in the fourth quarter — with a helping hand from the visitors, who turned the ball over twice in the final frame — it was the Warrior defense which gets a lot of the credit for this win.
With Bristol leading 19-7, Kelley — who raced to a 50-yard TD on third-and-15 in the second quarter — came up with a huge interception of a Jake Allen aerial on the second play of the fourth quarter, handing the Warriors the ball at DelCo’s 35 yard line.
Nine plays later, Kelley punched it in from the one for a 26-7 lead with 6:21 still to play.
On the fifth play of the Knights’ next series, DelCo coughed the ball up again, this time at their own 34.
From there, it took the Warriors only four plays to score with Bell carrying the rock all 34 yards for the score.
The Knights tried to come back, as Allen raced to a 59-yard touchdown scamper down the sideline with 1:46 to go. But by that time, the outcome of the duel had already been decided.
Next, the Warriors travel to Valley Forge Military Academy for a 2 p.m. battle on Saturday, Oct. 22. Meanwhile, the Knights host Morrisville at the same time that day.
Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
Bristol 33, Delaware County Christian 13
(Oct. 14 at Bristol)
BRISTOL (4-2, 2-1: BAL) 6 6 7 14 – 33
DELCO CHRISTIAN (2-5, 1-3) 0 7 0 6 – 13
B — Samir Brisbon 34-yd. pass from Parker Kelley (pass failed)
B — Kelley 50-yd. run (pass failed)
DC — Jaylen Mitchell 14-yd. pass from Jake Allen (Jacob Bronkema kick)
B — Brisbon 16-yd. pass from Kelley (Kevin Buck kick)
B — Kelley 1-yd. run (Buck kick)
B — Eric Bell 2-yd. run (Buck kick)
DC — Allen 59-yd. run (kick failed)
