Bell ran Interlachen off the field — figuratively and literally.

After giving up 21 straight points and building frustrations with the officials (the final straw apparently being a player drawing several unsportsmanlike conduct fouls by shouting obscenities at the officials), Rams coaches pulled the players off the field, forcing Bell to play the final 2:47 all by their lonesome.

The Bulldogs’ best game, it was not, but they looked like they had grown up since their regular-season-ending loss to Aucilla Christian. Bell was the more physical team and ground down Interlachen in a 21-7 in the SSAA Atlantic 1A semifinals Friday night.

After falling behind, 7-0, in the second quarter, Head Coach Joey Whittington felt like the Bulldogs needed something to get momentum. That thing turned out to be going for it on fourth and 19 just inside Interlachen territory.

“I was just trying to find a spark,” Whittington said. “We were struggling on offense, and I was just trying to find a spark.”

“I’m not a smart man, but I’m not a dumb man. I know that’s not best move there,” he added before being doused with what was left in the water cooler. “Luckily it didn’t cost us.”

Bell narrowly escaped a two-score deficit in the first half. While Bell’s offense sputtered, Interlachen connected on a shot play, with the deep ball giving the Rams first and goal at the 2-yard line.

But disaster struck for the Rams as a low snap led to a bungled handoff, and the Bulldogs recovered the fumble at the five.

Bell fumbled the ball back to the Rams after crossing their own 30, and Interlachen capitalized and scored to break a scoreless tie halfway through the second quarter.

That’s when Whittington decided to roll the dice.

The offense again sputtered and found itself in fourth and California.

Undeterred, Whittington dialed up a shot play and was rewarded with pass interference call.

However, the Bulldogs were so far behind the chains that the 15-yard penalty only made it fourth and 4 (pass interference does not carry an automatic first down in high school).

Again, Whittington dug into his bag and pulled out a reverse to pick up the first down. Bell would eventually find the end zone tie the game at 7 late in the first half.

“To be completely honest, we were lucky,” Whittington said. “Credit to them [Interlachen] they made some adjustments from the first time we played. Our offensive line did not respond well at first, but the kids listened at halftime and we made some adjustments. What sparked us was Levi [Jacobs] coming out and giving us a great opportunity kicking the ball down there and they fumble and us going and getting it and taking advantage of that.”

“We were very lucky for it to be 7-7 at halftime,” Whittington added. “We made a bunch of mistakes, luckily they made a couple that didn’t allow it to get out of hand.”

Bell faced the possibility of having to start both halves on defense: Interlachen opened the game by recovering an onside kick, and the Bulldogs had to kick off start the second half.

But Jacobs kick to open the second half was muffed, and the Bulldogs recovered at the Interlachen 25.

After moving the ball inside the Rams 5-yard line, Whittington had to go into his bag of tricks again.

After calling a timeout, the Bulldogs feigned some substitution confusion, and Interlachen never realized they were leaving Bell receiver Brandon Aguilar uncovered next to the Bulldogs’ sideline.

Issac Johnson saw it, though, and the pair connected for a short touchdown pass to give Bell the lead early in the third quarter.

Bell would shut Interlachen out for the rest of the half and tacked on another score for good measure to clinch a spot in the SSAA Atlantic 1A Championship Game. Bell will travel to Cocoa to take on the Space Coast team that defeated them in last year’s championship.

“The seniors came up with this, and Issac, the quarterback, pushed it a lot: go 1-0 every week,” Whittington said. “Don’t let the moment get too big, that we’re playing in a championship. We’re going on a business trip.”

“There’s only two teams left in SSAA 1A, we’re blessed to be one of them,” Whittington added. “Don’t let the moment get too big, but don’t pass up a big opportunity.”