The Bell Trophy returned to Akron after a wild 13-7 Tippecanoe Valley win over Rochester Friday night. (Photos by Mike Deak)

AKRON – Alex Morrison, listed at 6-3, 230 pounds, was reduced to a crying mess. Steve Moriarty could barely stand, much less produce full sentences. Chandler Lamb was beside himself, staring at a mass of hysterical teenagers running after a black bell.

It means something, the Bell Game. It means a lot.

“This is what you play for, this is what it’s all about,” said Tippecanoe Valley head coach Moriarty, hands on his knees and out of breath after his football team defeated Rochester, 13-7, Friday night to reclaim the prized Bell Trophy. It wasn’t just another weekend of rivalry football, it was an instant classic. It was exciting, and it actually carried some meaning for the Three Rivers Conference races.

The annual border war played out to script, showcasing a tight contest between two teams that wanted to win badly. Rochester looked to maintain its perfect 6-0 mark while Valley sat at 2-1 in the TRC and were knocking on the door of the TRC North. Through a half, there was no score and only seven total possessions. Rochester changed that on its first possession of the second half when Taylor Johnson broke off a long run to Valley’s 25, then took it to the house from 15 yards with 5:42 to go in the third quarter to break through at 7-0.

That score remained until the fourth, setting up a final quarter that will be talked about for years to come.

The chippiness of a heated rivalry finally caught up to Rochester, which committed a personal foul setting up Valley at the Zebra 35, then another taking the ball to the 21. Valley called a pass, which had Noah Miller roll to his left and heave it to the corner where Morrison was setting up, and so was Jace Potter.

Jacob Davis stuffs Taylor Johnson on a key third down in the fourth quarter.

The next few seconds would read like a baseball play. A Rochester defender tipped the pass, then Morrison would get his hands on the ball, bobble it, have it batted up in the air by a Rochester defender, then another, and somehow end up in Potter’s hands. The junior receiver then had the wherewithal to fall forward and into the endzone for a touchdown. The Jose Rivera extra point tied it with 4:22 to go.

Valley would hold on defense and force a punt.

Morrison again came up big, pulling in a 23-yard pass in Rochester territory to keep the line moving. Miller again set up to pass to the corner, going for it all. And, again, Morrison and Potter were setting up there. The high lofting pass this time went to Potter, who was hassled by Zebra defenders. As the ball came down, it landed on Potter’s chest and held just long enough for Morrison to snatch it and fall forward to the one.

Wes Melanson then pounded it in from a yard out, and short of Franco Harris, no one could believe what had just happened.

“This is just amazing, I love it,” Potter said. “I didn’t even know that Alex caught it, honestly. I just saw him come down with it and I was excited.”

“We just threw it up to the big kids and let them get it, Potter had to go up and get it and Morrison had to go up and get it,” Moriarty said. “The defense, though, is what won this. They just played with heart. When Rochester scored, they just got mad and got even. From there, it just worked out. Like it was meant to be.”

Valley held on to bat away two Hail Marys from Brady Perez, inciting a party at Death Valley that will linger for some time.

“I knew earlier this year there was a kid from Fort Wayne Snider that plays at Penn State, and when he scored, he goes like this (arms raised),” Melanson said of his game-winning score. “I said, ‘Why so serious?’ We take everything so serious these days. We just needed to have some fun. But, then again, this game means a lot to a lot of people. And we’ve got the Bell. It’s a great feeling.”

Valley made its miracle comeback without the services of sensational running back Cam Parker, who left in the second half under the concussion protocol. In his stead, Dakota Gaff stepped in and, while only gaining 19 yards, kept drives moving in the fourth quarter. Parker finished his night with 95 yards on the ground on 22 carries. Valley as a whole rushed for 152 yards while Miller pitched it seven times for 91 yards and the two memorable completions.

Valley’s defense bent on Rochester’s strong running game, allowing 211 yards, but kept all of the backs under 60 yards, Johnson the leader at 56 yards. Matt Lease had 48 yards, Isaiah Jackson 45 yards, Haydn Prater 42 yards and Bryce Abbott to 11 yards. Perez completed just one of nine passes for four yards.

Oh, by the way, it was also homecoming for Valley, where Dillon Wood and Sarah Tucker were crowned King and Queen.

The win moves Valley to 3-1 in the TRC North, on top of both Northfield and Rochester at 2-1. Valley (4-3) takes on South dweller Wabash at home next week while Rochester (6-1) finishes up North play against Manchester. Northfield visits Whitko, which the Wildcats hung 46 on the Squires Friday night in its first win of the season.