Junior running back Spencer Greer was the workhorse running 22 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns and adding a 64 yard punt return for another score.
"We play power football and we kept pounding it in there," said Bobcat coach Dudley Hilton. "Everybody brings their 'A' game when we come to town so we've always got to be ready to play. That's Bell County football and that's the attitude we have every week."
Mixing a short passing game with power and misdirection runs, the Colonels controled the football for most of the first half, but had nothing to show for it until Cody Jones broke through with a 14-yard touchdown. Jamie Labanion's extra point gave Whitley a 7-0 lead with 5:27 to play in the half.
Bell answered with a seven-play 47 yard drive capped by Greer's 3-yard touchdown run to tie it with 2:36 on the clock.
Monte Merrick made the extra point and boomed the kickoff out of the end zone to pin the Colonels back at their own 20.
Bell forced a three and out an took over with 51 seconds on the clock. The went 42 yards in eight plays and Kyle Nelson hit Shawnta Zachery for a 21 yard gain to the Whitley 18 in the closing seconds of the half.
Merrick came on an hit a 35-yard field goal to put Bell up 10-7.
"We did a good job getting the ball back and taking the lead right before halftime," Hilton said. "Those were some big plays and I think that might have busted their bubble."
Both teams punted on their opening possession of the second half and Greer returned Whitley's for the 64-yard score. Tyler Harbin had a huge block to take out the last Colonel that had a shot at Greer and the big hit and big return fired up the Bell sideline.
"Our special teams were big all night and that was a key play in the game," Hilton said.
Senior T.R. Christopher ran in for 20 yards out on the next Bell possession and Merrick's extra point made it 24-7 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.
Jason Powers broke free for a 48-yard run on the Whitley's next possession. Matt Raines ran him down from behind to save a touchdown, but Labanion ran in from a yard out three plays later to cut the lead to 24-14 with 9:59 to play in the game.
Even though Whitley enjoyed a nearly 2-to-1 one advantage in time of possession, Bell seemed to get stronger as the game went on.
They scored on both of the final two possession — a nine yard run by Greer and a one-yard dive by Harbin to close out the scoring.
Nelson completed 6-of-12 passes for 60 yards in the game. Zachery had four catches for 32 yards; Matt Raines had one catch for 11 yards and freshman John Dudley Hilton had one catch for 17 yards in the first half.
Seeing his son catch his first pass in a high school game was a special moment for coach Hilton.
"That was a touching moment," he said. "You always like to get that first one behind you. Hopefully he played a good game."
Junior running back Justin Goodin saw a lot of time at the fullback slot and responded with 60 yards on six carries for Bell.
The Bobcats (2-0) host Knox Central (1-1) next week in their first district game of the season. Whitley County (0-2) will host Newport.
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