Football, Game Coverage, High School

Bellbrook Stuns Tippecanoe 27-14 in Week 1 Upset

By Cole Swafford | CSwaff Media
Photography by Oliver Shrider | Contributing Photographer

TIPP CITY, Ohio — Bellbrook wasted no time making a statement in the 2026 season.

The Golden Eagles walked into City Park Stadium on Friday night facing one of the most highly regarded teams in the Miami Valley and walked out with one of the biggest wins of Week 1, knocking off Tippecanoe 27-14 in a game that could have an impact on the Division III playoff picture later this fall.

Senior QB Larkin Thomas slings a pass downfield for the Red Devils.

Tippecanoe entered the season with significant expectations. The Red Devils were viewed as one of the area’s top teams and a legitimate contender to make a deep postseason run. They also brought a 24-game regular-season winning streak into Friday night.

Bellbrook ended all of that in one night.

The Golden Eagles controlled the game physically for much of the evening, particularly on the ground, and ultimately pulled away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn what had been a close game into a statement victory.

Bellbrook finished with 337 total yards, including 256 rushing yards on 50 attempts. Tippecanoe managed 227 total yards, with 148 coming through the air and just 79 on the ground.

The Golden Eagles also won the battle on third down, converting 9-of-14 attempts, while Tippecanoe managed just 1-of-8.

Bellbrook struck first and never allowed the Red Devils to take control early.

After a Tippecanoe fumble gave Bellbrook possession, the Golden Eagles capitalized, eventually getting into the end zone on a 2-yard run to take a 6-0 lead. Bellbrook added another rushing touchdown in the second quarter, extending the advantage to 13-0.

For a team that came into the night with plenty to prove, Bellbrook looked comfortable playing its style of football.

Senior wideout Grant Titley lines up outside before the snap.

Tippecanoe finally answered before halftime when Larkin Thomas connected with Grant Titley for a 4-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 13-7.

The Red Devils then came out of halftime with even more momentum.

Thomas found Titley again, this time for a 73-yard touchdown strike, giving Tippecanoe its first lead of the night at 14-13.

Suddenly, the preseason favorite looked like it was on its way to surviving a difficult opening-night matchup.

Bellbrook had other plans.

The Golden Eagles continued to pound away at the Tippecanoe defense and regained the lead in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard rushing touchdown. A successful two-point conversion pushed the advantage to 21-14.

With Tippecanoe needing an answer, Bellbrook delivered the final blow.

Another rushing touchdown, this one from 34 yards out, put the Golden Eagles ahead 27-14 and effectively sealed the upset.

For Bellbrook, it was more than just a Week 1 victory.

The Golden Eagles had lost their previous two meetings with Tippecanoe by a combined 49-7, and Friday night provided a chance to change the narrative surrounding the matchup.

They did exactly that.

Bellbrook’s defense also continued a strong stretch dating back to last season, holding Tippecanoe to 14 points and forcing a critical turnover that helped set up the game’s opening touchdown.

The Golden Eagles entered the season coming off a 6-5 campaign, but Friday night’s performance showed that this year’s team may have much higher aspirations.

Junior WR Bentley Heckman in stretching lines during halftime warmups.

For Tippecanoe, meanwhile, the loss is a difficult way to begin a season that came with legitimate expectations.

The Red Devils were expected by many to be one of the teams capable of making a deep playoff push. Instead, they find themselves 0-1 after watching a 24-game regular-season winning streak come to an end.

Still, the season is far from over.

One game does not erase what Tippecanoe has built, but Friday night’s result certainly changes the conversation surrounding the Red Devils. They will have to respond quickly and prove that the preseason expectations were justified.

Bellbrook, on the other hand, leaves Tipp City with exactly the kind of win that can define a season.

The Golden Eagles did not simply win their opener. They went on the road, faced one of the area’s most heavily favored teams, overcame a second-half lead by the Red Devils and finished the game with authority.

After one week, Bellbrook has officially put the Miami Valley on notice.

The Golden Eagles are 1-0, and after Friday night, nobody should be overlooking them.