Senior running back continues success

By FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

Brad Bell joined the football program in 7th grade because "everyone else was doing it." Now a senior, Bell is a leader for the Bigfork High School football team on and off the field.

"He leads by example, not by hollering," BHS coach Bruce Corbett said.

Originally a quarterback, Bell will finish his four-year football career at BHS as a running back. Bell enjoys the new position.

"It's more physical," he said of the being a running back. "It suits me."

Bell will get little argument about that fact from anyone who has watched him play the past couple of seasons, especially under the Vikes' new wing-T offense. Bell calls the new offense "an awesome system." He added that it suits the Vikings' size and ability.

"It's been fun," Bell said of this season. "It's different and less stressful."

Bell's statement falls in with the football program's focus on things that allow the Vikes to win and not be torn apart, according to Corbett.

"We celebrate the game of football," Corbett said. "We put our athletes first and football follows."

Bell has blossomed in the running back position and often leads the team in rushing. Last season he led the Northwest A football conference in average yards per reception after his 122-yard rushing game against the Ronan Chiefs. As for that game, Bell said last year that it was "pretty cool."

"The offensive line opened up a lot of holes. They made it easy for me to run," he said of the game, which was his first start as tailback.

Bell repeated and improved upon his performance against the Chiefs this season. He rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikes' game against Ronan this year.

"I wasn't really thinking about it," Bell said of his three touchdown performance. He enjoys playing football and doing his best to help the Vikes get closer to their first win. "It's not every day you get to fly around, hitting people and putting everything you've got into it."

Bell continued his success in the Vikings' last game against the Columbia Falls Wildcats, as he rushed for 112 yards and scored Bigfork's two-point conversion. He also had an interception.

Bell missed the first game of this season.

"He was a game behind, but he very quickly caught up," Corbett said.

Bell currently ranks seventh in individual rushing. He has a total of 78 carries for 422 yards and a 5.41 yard per carry average with four touchdowns.

During his sophomore year, Bell started as the Vikes' quarterback. He was 28-for-66 passing for a total of 328 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Bell is one of 10 seniors on this year's football roster. He said that playing with his fellow seniors adds to his enjoyment on the field.

"It's awesome. We get along well. It's a real privilege," he said of the other seniors, who along with him have been through some rough seasons with the football program.

The Vikings were 0-8 last season and are still winless at 0-7 this season.

"It's unfortunately become a tradition," Bell said of not winning. "It's frustrating."

And though the team hasn't won since Bell was a sophomore, he said he's learned a lot about the game of football, especially being on a team with small numbers like Bigfork.

"You get to see the game from both sides," Bell said of playing both offense and defense for the Vikes. He added that he believes it will be beneficial for him as he pursues a college football and baseball career.

Bell has played for the Glacier Twins baseball team for three years. He was a AA starter for the Twins, playing both catcher and second base. Bell will broaden his athletic horizon even more this spring, as he joins the BHS track and field team.

"I'll do whatever Mrs. L (Loeffler) thinks I'm best suited for," Bell said of what track and field events he'll participate in.

After high school Bell plans on majoring in criminal justice and going into the law enforcement field. This summer he said he plans on getting involved in collegiate summer league baseball programs in Washington or Oregon.

"He's obviously a tremendous athlete," Corbett said. "We wish we had five of him."