BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Rocky River has wrested the Helm away from Bay. On a spectacular autumn evening at Bay Memorial Stadium, the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak against the Rockets. And they did so with authority. Rocky River powered its way forward in the Great Lakes Conference West Division standings with a 41-10 trophy-game triumph over Bay.
For all the nautical warfare imagery -- of a War by the Shore, with swashbuckling Pirates, clanking swords, and cannon fire -- the game-changer Friday was the River Raiders repeatedly firing Bebies deep into Rocket territory.
The Bebie brothers -- senior running back Tommy Bebie and junior running back Johnny Bebie -- combined to score all six touchdowns for the Pirates.
And the Bebie Gun Massacre was a quick-strike affair. Each brother scored two rushing TDs by the 11:55-mark of the second quarter. When Tommy Bebie powered his way into the end zone at 6:17 of the second, the Maroon & White were in front, 35-7. After a Rocket field goal, the Pirates were able to get on the board one more time before halftime. That score was on a 50-yard dash to paydirt by Tommy Bebie. He crossed the wire with his fourth TD at the six-second mark. At that point, the rout was on with Rocky River eyeing a running clock in the third quarter.
The Pirates led, 41-10, at the half. They cranked out 354 yards of offense over the first two quarters -- every one of them was on the ground. River had six possessions in the half -- every one of them resulted in a touchdown.
With a lead of 30-plus, the clock was indeed in mercy-rule mode in the third: the 41-10 score made it to the end of the third before the Bay PA announcer could say, "Bebie". And that same score raced to the final gun before the announcer could say, "another Bebie".
The final margin marked Rocky River's third of 30-plus points this season (Aug. 20 vs. Midview, Aug. 27 vs. Firelands). It was the Pirates' largest margin of victory against their rivals since Oct. 12, 2007 (50 points in a 56-6 contest). With Friday's win, the Sons of Blackbeard snapped a four-game losing streak in the War by the Shore. Bay’s streak was the longest in the now-83-game series since Rocky River won eight straight meetings from 2003-10.
The 10 points allowed by the Pirates (4-2, 2-0 GLC West) mark a season low. River has yielded just 18.5 points per game through six contests this fall.
With his four touchdown runs, Tommy Bebie now has 12 rushing TDs this season and 25 for his career. Final stats were not available at the time of publication, but Bebie also crossed over the 2,000-yard mark for his career.
For Tommy Bebie, brother Johnny, and the rest of the Pirates -- and on both sides of the ball -- no quarter was given. And the first two quarters? Those frames amounted to a pillage in the Village.
And the plunder? The Helm, which now resides at 20951 Detroit Road in Rocky River.
by Skip Snow
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