CHERRY TWP — This was all about explosiveness.

The Butler County Bears had the biggest of the big plays Saturday night in knocking off the Strabane Spartans, 29-19, in a semi-pro Ohio Football League game at Moniteau High School.

Steve Cupec rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, Antawane Davis returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and the Bears sacked Strabane quarterback Milton Banks Jr. 10 times. It all added up to the first 3-0 start in the Bears’ four-year history.

“They (Spartans) are a first-year team, but they have a number of guys who have been playing semi-pro football for a few years now years,” Bears coach Kirk Bergbigler said. “I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.”

The Bears led only 9-7 at halftime — Strabane’s lone score being a 25-yard interception return by Marquis Brown — and the teams traded touchdowns during the third quarter.

But after Strabane (1-2) pulled within 15-13 with 1:48 left in the third quarter, Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a score.

Karns City graduate Erik Fuhrer found Nathan Bumblis for a 20-yard TD toss early in the fourth quarter to extend the Bears’ lead to 29-13.

“On paper, that team was supposed to kill us,” Strabane coach Jeff Patterson said. “We only have two coaches and one of them is home sick.

“They’ve got five coaches on the sidelines, two upstairs ... We have a 25-player roster and about 16 show up for practice, yet we’re in this game until giving up that kick return. We’ve got some talented players. We just need to get to practice and develop.”

Banks threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns — including a 73-yard bomb to receiver Keith Jackson for the game’s final score with 11:09 left to play. Jackson had six catches for 168 yards.

Karns City graduate Justin Switzer had roughly half of the Bears’ 10 sacks on the night as Banks repeatedly scrambled around in the backfield, buying time while looking for big plays.

“I had food poisoning earlier in the day and was throwing up blood,” Switzer said. “But nothing’s going to keep me from playing football.

“I was dehydrated all night, it was hot and humid out here, but we contained that guy enough to win the game.”

Moniteau graduate James Shope contributed 60 yards rushing and Fuhrer threw for 138 yards and a score. KC grad Stephon Conto tallied 61 yards receiving and rushing.

The Bears rushed for 213 yards.

“I like where our offense is going,” Bergbigler said. “We have a few 300-pound guys along the offensive line and our new offensive coordinator was an offensive lineman.

“We’ve got time to do some things and we’re showing a lot of balance.”

The Bears host the Pittsburgh Colts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Moniteau’s stadium.

B.C. Bears 29, Strabane 19

Strabane 0 7 6 6 — 19

B.C. Bears 6 3 13 7 — 29

S B

12 First Downs 17

26-(-28) Rushes-Yards 32-213

232 Passing Yards 138

11-21-0 Comp.-Att.-Int 11-28-1

204 Total Yards 351

1-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1

9-55 Penalty Yards 11-105

First Quarter

B — Steve Cupec 10 run (kick failed), 3:04

Second Quarter

S — Marquis Brown 25 interception return (Joe Pacella kick), 14:39

B — Jason Majocha 23 field goal, 7:41

Third Quarter

B — Cupec 27 run (run failed), 7:29

S — Dave Marx 27 pass from Milton Banks Jr. (kick failed), 1:48

B — Antawane Davis 85 kick return (Majocha kick), 1:31

Fourth Quarter

B — Nathan Bumblis 20 pass from Erik Fuhrer (Majocha kick), 13:40

S — Keith Jackson 73 pass from Banks (run failed), 11:09

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Strabane, Milton Banks Jr. 17-(-51), Phillip Henderson 8-21, Dave Marx 1-2. Bears, James Shope 9-61, Erik Fuhrer 3-(-15), Steve Cupec 7-117, Jerod Huitchison 11-37, Stephon Conto 1-14, TEAM 1-(-1).

Passing: Strabane, Milton Banks Jr. 11-21-232-0. Bears, Erik Fuhrer 11-28-138-1.

Receiving: Strabane, De’Juan Davis 1-10, Keith Jackson 6-168, Hans Hauge 3-27. Bears, Stephon Conto 4-47, Steve Cupec 1-17, Nathan Bumblis 3-37, Antawane Davis 3-37.