High school football: Freshman Dom Bell already rewriting Black River record book

Dom Bell is the only Black River player to throw for 190 yards five times and ranks in the top 10s for career passing yards and touchdowns. He also owns the second-longest interception return for a touchdown in school history at 92 yards and averages 40.9 per punt. Here's the crazy part: The freshman will play in only his ninth career game Friday when the surging Pirates (4-4, 3-2) host backyard rival Wellington (3-4, 1-4) at Art Stevenson Field. Starting freshmen is nothing new at Division VI schools such as Black River, which has had its fair share from current head coach Kyle Clark and defensive coordinator Aaron Munyan, Stefan Mullins, Travis Owen and Medina County Sports Hall of Famers Brian Ensign and Andrew Vaughn in the last 25 years alone. A three-phase major impact like Bell, however, is quite rare. "Obviously, the first couple weeks were a big adjustment from middle school," said Bell, who had his helmet ripped off by a defensive end on his first career offensive play against Hillsdale. "As anybody can tell you on the coaching staff or in the locker room, progressively they obviously warned me and prepared me for it. Nothing could prepare me for how them hits were going to feel. "Naturally throughout the weeks, things are going to get easier in the game. It's going to come more natural." The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder joined the high school program with plenty of hype after leading the middle school team to a 7-1 record and Lorain County League championship. Clark wasn't going to hand over the keys easily with returning starter Hunter Varney in the fold, so he rotated reps during the 7-on-7 summer season. Soon it became clear that Bell was the man, and not because Varney played poorly. The Pirates stunned the local small-school world by beating defending D-VI state runner-up Kirtland and D-VII runner-up Hillsdale at a 7-on-7 tournament and Varney, one of the most unselfish players Clark has coached, volunteered a move to running back to better balance the offense. Clark immediately designed a scheme to cater to Bell's abilities, initially featuring a lot of RPO concepts that defenses eventually adjusted to. The Pirates now call an unusually high number of screens to get ultra-physical senior receivers Zane Bungard and Bryce Murray in space, setting up deep shots down the seams to Bungard or No. 3 receiver Carson Steidl. Bell, who has an uncanny ability to lead receivers to open space, initially showed a preference to remain in the pocket but has scrambled strategically in recent weeks, annoying defensive coordinators to no end. "He's a really smart athlete and really good at making decisions," Clark said. "He's confident in his ability. He's gotten better under center and better on his rollout. He's also more comfortable in the pocket to where pressure isn't a factor. "Being this is the first year that I've coached him, I'm getting a better feel for what his skill set is, and we're trying to design the plays for that." Since rising to prominence in the mid-1970s, Black River has been one of the premier rushing schools in Northeast Ohio. The Pirates have an absurd 35 seasons with at least 2,000 rushing yards over the last 50 years but have thrown for 1,000 just seven times — all since 1999 and including this fall. Bell smirked when reminded of the reputation. Ironically, the Pirates are struggling to run the rock behind a fundamentally sound but small offensive line that is missing 245-pound bulldozing tackle Colton Moskal (knee) and remain in danger of averaging fewer than 100 yards for the first time since 1980. They still have an outside shot at a D-VI, Region 21 playoff berth, though, behind a fast, physical defense and Bell slinging the ball. Jersey No. 1 has completed 99-of-154 passes (.643) for 1,261 yards, 13 touchdowns only four interceptions — two were essentially jump balls stolen from intended receivers — while also rushing 54 times for 175 yards and three scores that featured the game-winner in thrilling 40-33 Lorain County League victory at Firelands in which he spun around a defender at the 6-yard line and dove into the end zone. Bell needs 543 passing yards and four TDs to break current Baldwin Wallace punter Eric Groesser's season records of 1,803 and 16 set in 2022. He continuously takes zero credit for his success and instead praises the line and receivers, points out he also loves playing cornerback (26 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 pass breakups) and prefers to look at the bigger picture. "I don't have a favorite part. Just playing the game is the favorite part for me," he said. "I get to go out there with all of my brothers and perform with all of them at a high level. "I'm just blessed to be out there. Obviously some days I don't want to practice, but there are some kids who can't even play. I'm going to take it while I can." While Bell's top receiver from a year ago, Cameron Russell, is now at St. Edward and Black River will lose Bungard (45 catches, 704 yards, 10 TDs) and Murray (23, 266, 2; 12 carries, 126 yards) to graduation, the Pirates' future remains bright. Bell, Varney, two-way linemen Jack Vancooney, Trenton Delesky and Moskal and linebackers Kayden Hendershot and Kage Petruzzi will form a nucleus bolstered by an eighth-grade class that outscored opponents 226-0 during an 8-0 season. Suffice it to say, Bell is passing all tests and leading Black River into a new era. "(The future is) very bright," he said. "It's a big jump from middle school to high school, so we'll see how the (eighth-graders) come out next year, but they have very good mindsets and always come out ready to work. "They are a very fun group to be around." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.