Veritas Christian's Michael Kay tries to break free from the grasp of St. John's Military Academy's Samy Wahabrebi. The Eagles won Friday night, 42-16, at the Youth Sports Inc. complex.

Veritas Christian football coach Doug Bennett had to put plays back into his playbook when 6-foot-4 tight end Craig Bell arrived on the team two weeks ago.

Bennett had taken plays designed for a tall receiver out when 6-5 Mark Randtke graduated last season.

The new plays worked Friday. Bell caught two touchdown passes to lead Veritas to a 42-16 football victory over St. John’s Military Academy at the Youth Sports Inc. complex.

“It has been great having him, and it really helps me out,” quarterback Ben Balman said.

Balman was 5-of-10 for 104 yards and three touchdowns, and three of his receptions were to Bell.

“It is always great to have a 6-4 guy to throw to,” Bennett said. “Craig really goes after the ball. He is just real aggressive. He doesn’t just use his height.”

Bell got the Eagles going early, catching a 31-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession. Balman ran a bootleg to the left side of the field and found a wide-open Bell for the first score.

Veritas didn’t look back, scoring five touchdowns in the first half in building a 36-6 lead.

Veritas Christian School senior quarterback Ben Balman rushes towards St. John's Military School defense at the Youth Sports Inc. Complex Friday night. Balman lead the Eagles with several touchdowns.

Balman also ran the ball well, finishing with 82 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

“We had good blocking and good, hard running, and we are reading our holes well,” Bennett said. “We are staying balanced by mixing in some play-action passes. We executed our playbook really well tonight.”

It was not just the Eagles offense that looked sharp. The defense forced three fumbles, leading to good field position. Senior linebacker Ben Reynolds forced two of those fumbles.

“We were standing them up, and guys were coming in and stripping the ball,” Bennett said. “The defense is really playing well. I was telling the guys that this is about the best defense we have had since we started three years ago.”

The defense held St. John’s quarterback Shane Scott to just 12 yards on nine carries in the first half while also allowing just one pass completion.

The victory was the second straight for the Eagles after starting the season 0-3.

“We had some games that were not very good, but coaches kept telling us that we were playing some really good teams, and now we are getting some experience,” Balman said. “Everyone is starting to click now.”

Veritas will play at Springfield (Mo.) Christian a week from today at 3 p.m.

Veritas 42, St. Johns 16

Veritas 22 14 0 6 – 42

St. Johns 0 6 2 8 – 16

V – Craig Bell 31 pass from Ben Balman (Balman run)

V – Balman 1 run (pass failed)

V – Balman 3 run (Ben Reynolds run)

V – Michael Kay 29 pass from Balman (pass failed)

S – Shane Scott 8 run (run failed)

V – Jacob Reynolds 38 run (Reynolds pass from Balman)

S – Safety, sack in end zone

S – Scott 1 run (Scott run)

V – Bell 4 pass from Balman (pass failed)