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Big-game status still on with Bellwood, Northern

H.S. football

Game: Bellwood-Antis at Northern Bedford, 7 p.m.

Coaches: B-A Nick Lovrich (21-3, 3rd year); NB Garry Black (38-22, 6th year)

Site: Panther Community Stadium

Note: Game available on NFHS Network (see story for details)

Bellwood-Antis will begin its high school football season against a team that isn’t Tyrone for the first time in a long while, but that doesn’t mean the Blue Devils won’t be facing a big challenge.

B-A will travel to Northern Bedford on Friday at 7 p.m. for a rematch of last year’s 20-13 Bellwood triumph that came down to the final minutes.

“We may not be playing Tyrone, but Northern Bedford is always a big game for us so we are just as excited for this game,” Bellwood-Antis coach Nick Lovrich said. “No matter who you play that first game, there is always so much anticipation to get the season started. This preseason has definitely been very different than other years. We were not able to get in as many practices as we normally do, but the kids have been making the most of all the opportunities that have had so far. They have been working very hard to be ready for this first game.”

The Blue Devils and Black Panthers were picked to finish first and second respectively in the Inter-County Conference by coaches in the league in the Mirror’s preseason Blitz magazine.

“They are the cream of crop in the ICC and have been for quite some time,” Northern Bedford coach Garry Black said. “We got them once and hope to get them again. We want to get in position to win and playing close with them the last few times allows our players to come into the game confident unlike some of the other teams Bellwood plays who haven’t had any success against them.”

Black is referring to Northern Bedford’s 41-20 victory over Bellwood-Antis in 2015, one of the few losses the Blue Devils have suffered in ICC play over the past decade.

But in addition to that game, Northern Bedford has consistently tested B-A. Though it has lost the last three games in the series, none have been by more than 10 points.

The Black Panthers nearly won the District 5 Class 1A title last year, and most of their skill players from that team return this year including established quarterback Thad Leidy and 1,000-yard rusher Dalton Smith.

“Northern Bedford is a very good football program,” Lovrich said. “Coach Black and his staff do a great job getting their kids ready to play. They are returning a lot of their skill players from last season, so they pose a big threat to us. They are able to run and pass the ball very well. They have both a 1,000-yard rusher and passer back, and all of their backs and ends catch the ball very well. Their defense has traditionally played tough all the time. They are very aggressive and fly to the ball.”

Of course, Bellwood-Antis has plenty of returning talent as well. The Blue Devils return 1,000-yard rusher Zach Mallon and backfield partner Nick Plank, who nearly reached the 1,000-yard milestone last season as well.

“We’re going to have to slow down their run game and force turnovers and get some big plays,” Black said. “We have to take advantage if we get those turnovers, but Bellwood is always well-disciplined and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”

According to Black, the Bellwood-Antis and Northern Bedford travel rosters include 140 players, coaches and staff combined. That leaves an allowance for only 110 additional people inside the stadium Friday, including ambulance, band members and cheer leaders. The Black Panthers coach said the plan as of Monday was to distribute two tickets per NBC senior for fan attendance.

The game will also be available on the NFHS Network. The network, which is being used by five other teams in addition to the Black Panthers in the ICC, can be subscribed to annually for $69.99 or monthly for $10.99 at nfhsnetwork.com.

Fans will not be allowed to stand outside the stadium to watch the game.

Both coaches expressed disappointment that the stadium won’t be full on Friday, but after not knowing whether or not there would even be a season recently, they aren’t taking playing at all for granted.

“I think it is great for the kids that we are playing football,” Lovrich said. “They are getting the chance to do something that three weeks ago we did not think was going to happen. They have had a great attitude through the whole process that went on all summer. Now that we are back to playing, they are so excited to be back on the field to have that chance to play the game that they love.”

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