AV¶ÌÊÓƵ

In the case of the Freedom football team, its backfield actually is occupied by two blood-related brothers. And they’re both pretty darn good ball-carriers.

Senior Jaiden Belin and sophomore Jaiveon Belin were outstanding for the Patriots in Friday’s 36-22 Northwestern 3A/4A Conference win over South Caldwell, eclipsing 220 total rushing yards and scoring three total touchdowns on the ground in a Senior Night game played at AV¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Patton High School.

Jaiden Belin looked poised to be FHS’ lead running back in Week 1, but an early injury put that plan on hold for a few weeks. Since making his return a week ago in a 30-20 home loss to Alexander Central at PHS, he has amassed nearly 200 yards on the ground and scored three TDs, with Friday night’s performance of 175 yards and two scores on just 10 carries amounting to by far his best varsity performance.

Jaiveon Belin has been the Patriots’ speed back option this fall after excelling as the JV quarterback a season ago. He scored a touchdown and racked up 48 yards on just four carries in Friday’s victory.

Their performances allowed Freedom (4-3, 1-1 NWC) to outgain South Caldwell 350-262 despite running just 31 plays to the Spartans’ 74 as the hosts’ 11.3 yards per play blew away the visitors’ 3.5. And it would have been a 300-yard rushing night for FHS (297) if not for a kneel-down on the final play in a goal-to-go situation.

Jaiden Belin’s touchdowns were a 10-yarder to make it 7-0 in the first quarter and a 2-yarder in the fourth period to set the final margin. In between, he ripped off gains of 25, 57, 18 and 49 yards.

“The green grass, I loved it,� Jaiden Belin said. “Every time I saw it, I tried to take the opportunity. That’s what we are coached to do. When we see opportunities, we just have to take them, and take them full-stride.

“It felt so good. The first week, 3 minutes in, I messed up my shoulder. I tore four ligaments in it. To come back and have the game I just did, especially on Senior Night, I can’t do anything but thank God.�

Jaiveon Belin scored from 21 yards out on the first play of the second quarter to make it 14-0 Patriots. He also had a 15-yard carry in his change-of-pace role.

“It was great,� he said. “I came in my freshman year playing quarterback and didn’t play at all (on varsity). It feels great to be with my brother in his senior year and I get to play with him one last time. I was so proud of my brother. We might celebrate tonight. I love my brother to death. He did good today.

“I got the opportunity to go in there and start (while Jaiden was injured) and step up for the team. He came back ready to play and do what he needed to do to get the team going. It felt nice because last week, we came in soft. We didn’t get the job done. We came in (tonight) and just hammered them. We did our job tonight.�

First-year Freedom coach J.K. Adkins said he knew the team would miss Jaiden Belin during his absence, but the impact of the injury turned out to be even bigger than expected.

“Jaiden went out in Week 1, and that was a bigger blow, I think, than people realized, maybe even myself,� Adkins said. “He’s a tremendous downhill runner. He’s got some size to him. So, we missed his presence. He really had a good night tonight and ripped off some runs, and I think we played pretty good up front, too.�

Jaiden Belin reached the second level on half or more of his carries on Friday night and was able to use his size to lay some hits on linebackers and defensive backs. The senior said the ability to set the tone in such a way started earlier in the week.

“The biggest change is just practice. We’ve been practicing and trying to hit it hard,� Jaiden Belin said. “We’re going up front and just bullying people. That’s what we should be known for. Smacking them in the mouth every time, every play.

“We have to go back to practice strong just like we did this week. Last week, we took the ‘L.’ We took real responsibility this week and tried to come out here strong, especially in the conference. We just want to come out here and win so we can get a playoff game at home.�

All things considered, the emergence of Freedom’s run game is both giving the offense some needed balance and coming at a good time as the team enters the meat of the NWC portion of the schedule in colder weather.

“When you have the ability to run the football and run it well, it really does open up some things,� Adkins said. “Right now, I think people kind of keyed in on the passing game. We kind of lived there. We’re starting to get better up front and better understanding communication. Having (Jaiden) back there really helped us out.

“It’s very nice. That’s a good sign when you’re getting into October and you’re able to move the ball on the ground.�

In addition to the Belin brothers, the Patriots’ quarterback is doing his part in the ground game, too. Kaden Davis finished Friday night with 73 yards on nine carries, including a 38-yard touchdown on a one-play drive in the fourth quarter to put FHS ahead 29-22 after Davis also cashed in the two-point conversion run.

“Kaden is doing a good job (in the run game), too,� Adkins said. “When I got here, everybody said he wasn’t a running quarterback. I think he’s a dual-threat guy. I think he can hurt you with his arm and he can hurt you with his legs.�

The Belin brothers make Davis’ job that much easier, and that showed in an efficient passing night as the junior signal-caller completed 6 of 7 passes for 53 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tiras Walker (3-12-1) in the third period to bring FHS within 22-21. Davis’ other passes went to Kobe Johnson (2-26) and Kaleb Pearson (1-15), but some of his best plays of the night were handoffs to the Belins.

“They bring a lot to the rushing game,� Davis said of the running backs. “But not only them, but up front (with the offensive line) is what really gets it done. When people pull, our guards and tackles, that’s what people really don’t get to see. So, when they get things going, that opens up things for the rest of us in the backfield.

“I think we’re all just able to create with the ball in our hands when it comes down to that.�