YORKVILLE – World War II Memorial Stadium was packed on Thursday for the season kickoff game between the home-team Buckeye Local Panthers and the visiting Bellaire Big Reds, with the Big Reds sending the Panthers packing in a 31-6 week one victory.

Bellaire made plays by ground and by air in the battle on Ron Pobolish Field, as junior quarterback Michael Dippel tossed two touchdowns, and Rylin McMahon scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Dippel’s first score came on Bellaire’s first drive, as he laced a ball out wide to Raekwon Pettigrew, who juked and faked his way up the sideline for a 25-yard score with 10:00 on the clock in the first quarter.

Pettigrew made his fair share of highlights on Thursday, including his touchdown grab, another catch-and-run which included a clean hurdle, an

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