[Stardust]

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...310090079/

Lee Corso’s record in picking a winner in the Bellevue-Dayton series stands at a perfect 1-0.


The visiting Tigers dominated Dayton in the bitter battle of next-door neighbors 56-7 Friday night.

• Photos: Tigers 56, Green Devils 7


Corso, the ESPN college-football analyst, attended a Bellevue pep rally Monday.

There, he put on a tiger head, Corso’s trademark method of announcing his pick for a game.

The prognasticator made the safe choice. The Tigers were heavily favored going into the game against the winless Greendevils, and senior running back Ricky Buckler proved to be the difference.

Buckler scored five touchdowns and ran for 301 yards on 30 carries. It was his fourth-consecutive game going over 200 yards.

Conditions at Dayton’s O.W. Davis field were were muddy, and Bellevue opted to run Buckler between the tackles early and often.

“We wanted to keep it on the ground because of the rain and bad field conditions,” Buckler said.

As for his individual performance, Buckler credited the offensive line.

“That was our game plan – dominate up front, and that’s what we did,” he said.

Bellevue made its offensive game plan clear on the first possession, handing the ball to Buckler on its first six plays in a drive that stalled with a pair of penalties.

Buckler broke through on Bellevue’s next possession with 14-yard touchdown run with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter.

Dayton took the lead for the only time in the game later in the quarter when Buckler fumbled. Defensive back Brandon Thornton scooped up the ball and returned it 28 yards for the touchdown.

From there, the Bellevue onslaught was on. Buckler immediately made up for the fumble, carrying the ball four times for 52 yards in a drive that ended with Buckler’s 20-yard touchdown run.

Running back D.J Slater capped the next drive with a 12-yard run, dragging a pair of Greendevil defenders into the end zone with him. Buckler did most of the work on the drive with 8 carries for 79 yards. He finished the first half with 201 yards on 22 carries.

A 70-yard interception by linebacker Alex Hegge gave Bellevue a a 28-7 halftime lead.

Bellevue retained the paddle, the trophy awarded to the winner of the Battle for the Paddle. It’s the paddle’s third year of existence, and the Tigers hold a 2-1 advanatage in the Battle. Bellevue leads the overall series 85-42-3.

Tiger fans touted James Sullivan – a Bellevue senior who had an interception in the third quarter – as if he were another prize in the rivalry. Sullivan was the subject of T-shirts worn by Bellevue fans that read, “If you can’t beat us…join us.” Sullivan transferred to Bellevue after playing for Dayton last year.

“It hurts me, but I had to do it,” Sullivan said of moving to Bellevue. “I still love every one of those (Dayton) players.”