By John Bassetti

HUBBARD — Sam Bellino’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown as time on the first-half clock ran out electrified the hometown crowd, and spurred the Hubbard High football team onto a 40-12 victory over Ravenna in Saturday’s Division III Region 9 quarterfinal.

Hubbard was leading 13-6 when Bellino, a 5-11, 180-pound senior who didn’t play last year due to an ACL injury, sat in the Eagles’ end zone when he picked off a pass thrown by Ravenna backup quarterback Josh Chechak.

Hubbard had stopped Ravenna on the previous series when the Rovers reached the 1-yard line with three minutes left in the second quarter. The Eagles only had the ball briefly until Ravenna regained possession and moved to Hubbard’s 1 — again.

Bellino said that the Eagles had worked on short-yardage defense all week.

“Last week on fourth-and-one we were giving up way too many yards, so we stressed this week to make a pile,” Bellino said of his team’s staunch stand against Ravenna in the second quarter.

“Cody Kilar had been doing a good job stopping the draw and we thought it was coming [on what turned out to be the pass play/pickoff], but I just stood back and, for some reason, he just threw it right to me,” Bellino said.

Bellino wondered why the Rovers needed to pass when they were just feet from the goalline.

“If that was me, I would have given it to the biggest kid on our team and push it in.”

Chase Meyers, Kilar and Kurtis Drummond threw key blocks for Bellino, who had an interception earlier in the game.

“Drummond sealed the wide receiver and Meyers got the quarterback, which was the important one.”

The 100-yarder was his fifth of the season and is believed to be the school’s longest since Marcus Coonce had a 98-yarder for a TD during his freshman season.

Bellino said the interception return for six points was a career-first.

“I ran one for a touchdown as a sophomore, but it was called back.”

He said he was looking for the same Saturday night.

“As soon as I reached the end zone, I was looking for the yellow laundry.”

He had seven INTs as a sophomore.

Cory Farcas scored twice for Hubbard on runs of 11 and 33 yards, while Andre Givens’ 66-yard touchdown run got the Eagles off on the right foot on the first scrimmage play of the second half.

Tommy Jackson caught a 39-yard TD toss from Matt Shelton and Shelton scored from 13 yards out to finalize Hubbard’s six-pointers.

Mike Lopuchovsky made four point-after kicks.

After Ravenna’s starting quarterback, Zach Thomas, was injured early in the game, Chechak finished to complete 12 of 29 passes for 155 yards. However, he was picked off three times, including two by Bellino and another by Bobby Thompson.

Robert Lias had two fumble recoveries for the Eagles (9-2).

Givens finished with 88 yards, Farcas 71 and Bellino 30. Shelton completed three of nine aerials for 88 yards.

Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said his defense was outstanding, especially in the red zone.

“Sammy’s play was huge — a tremendous momentum-changer. It gave us a 19-6 lead going into the half and the ability to take advantage of having possession to start the second half. I think that set the tempo for the way the game was played in the second half.”

Hoffman spoke about Farcas’ contribution.

“We’ve counted on him to be one of our defensive leaders, but, three or four weeks ago, we started giving him the ball a little bit and he’s just a horse and tough to bring down and he’s going to get you those tough yards and carry some people with him.”

Farcas did just that for the final seven yards on his second-quarter TD of 33 yards.