KNOB NOSTER – Annual Bell Game tension rises to a new, heart-pounding level as Richmond and Lexington prepare to face off across the hashmarks Friday for more than who holds the bell. “Lexington beat Higginsville tonight,” Richmond coach Nick Persell says moments after his Spartans defeat Knob Noster 42-0 Oct. 16 on the road. “We’re both undefeated in conference (4-0) and next week will be the conference championship game.” The winner of the Bell Game rivalry also will claim the Missouri River Valley Conference East Division title. Lexington won the bell in 2018 and Richmond got it back in 2019. “I’m very excited to get out there and try to put one on them,” Spartan senior running back Wyatt Marshall says. Richmond has not faced much of a challenge in the last few games, crushing Knob Noster, Holden and Carrollton. But Lexington is no pushover. Marshall says the Spartans will be ready. “We’ll be able to put a couple of points up on them,” he says. Persell says getting his team…