Deckerville held back Bellaire 14-12 to win the 8-man state title at Greenville’s Legacy Stadium on Friday night.
Deckerville finishes the season at 12-1 while Bellaire is 9-3.
Quarterback Zach Smith scored on a 1-yard run with 20 seconds left in the first half to give Bellaire a 6-0 lead.
Deckerville scored twice in the third at 6:42 on Christopher Wolfe’s 5-yard run and Nick Pagels quarterback keeper try for two points, plus a 23-yard scoring run by Ryan Stone for a 14-6 lead.
Bellaire scored with 49 seconds left in regulation on a 52-yard toss from Smith to Wes Villafane. Hunter Walsh’s run try for two points failed.
Bellaire recovered the onside kick but was stopped on the 4-yard-line as time expired.
It was the second MHSAA 8-man football state championship game in Michigan and the first one in the Lower Peninsula.
It was the second lowest scoring total for Deckerville this season but it wasn’t enough to give Bellaire the victory.
“The kids played like this all year,” said Bellaire coach Ron Bindi. “With only 13 of them, always out-numbered, there was no quit in them. We didn’t get it done at the end this time.”
Bellaire had 300 rushing yards and 117 passing compared to 239 rushing yards for Deckerville and none passing. But despite a 417-239 edge in total yards, the Eagles were hurt by two interceptions and two costly fumbles.
Bellaire’s season ended at 9-3. Deckerville takes the title at 12-1.
Smith was 6-of-10 in passing for 117 yards. Villafane caught three passes for 93 yards.
Chase Small ran for 149 yards while Smith had 116 to lead the Bellaire ground attack.
Small had 12 tackles for Bellaire while Jordan Proctor added 10.