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BELLWOOD -- Coming off a 2-8 season, Bellwood-Antis prepared all off-season to be more competitive in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. All that preparation paid off in a big way for the Blue Devils Friday night.
Playing a Penns Valley team won the last two meetings by a combined score of 72-15, Bellwood turned the table on the Rams. The Blue Devils scored early and often on their way to a 51-12 mercy-rule win at John R. Hayes Field at Memorial Stadium.
Players of the game: The Bellwood offensive line paved the way for an offense that gained 471 yards, 383 coming on the ground. Starting lineman Christian Jennings, Jackson Grassmyer, Hunter Kyle, Jayce Quick and Logan Ridgway allowed the offense to rip off one big play after another, including five touchdowns of 30 yards or more.
Bellwood coach Nick Lovrich: "Our offensive line makes everything go. We have everyone back on the line. They took their lumps last year. They decided that wasn't going to happen anymore. They're stronger, more physical, more aggressive. That's what to led to all the backs doing what they did."
Jennings: "Coach (Chris) Wertman was all over us about getting their blitzes down. Last year, we were very new to zone blocking and couldn't pick it up. It was a different story this year. We knew they'd come hard almost every play. We picked it up early and it showed."
Plays of the game: After Colin Gibbons scored on a 33-yard run to put BA up 13-6 later in the first quarter, the Bellwood defense scored moments later to start stretching out the lead. On the second play following the kickoff, Ethan Sharff hit quarterback Koltin Shawver in the backfield, causing a fumble that Jennings scooped up and raced 24 yards for the score. Bellwood also got a 30-yard TD pass Schreier to Cayden Pellegrine, and a Bradyn Partner 39-yard scoring run in the second quarter for a 32-6 halftime lead.
Jennings on the touchdown: "I came around the outside of the tackle. I looked and there's that ball. I wanted it. It was a great bounce. I've never had one like that before, even in practice."
Vital statistics: Five different players scored for Bellwood, and four different backs rushed for 50 yards or more. The Bellwood defense held PV to 164 yards, including just 27 on the ground. The defense also came up with three turnovers.
Penns Valley coach Martin Tobias: "Bellwood controlled the line of scrimmage, definitely. The team's improved. They've grown up. They executed at a high level and didn't make mistakes to beat themselves. We'll try to build, and we'll try to improve. Just like we do every week."
Records: Bellwood-Antis (1-0); Penns Valley (0-1).
Next week: Bellwood visits Westmont Hilltop. Penns Valley hosts Bedford.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Penns Valley 6 0 6 0 -- 12
Bellwood-Antis 19 13 12 7 -- 51
First Quarter
BA--Plummer 38 run (Schreier kick), 4:57.
PV--Ironside 48 pass from Shawver (kick failed), 4:06.
BA--Gibbons 33 run (kick failed), 1:24.
BA--Jennings 24 fumble return (kick failed), :27.
Second Quarter
BA--Pellegrine 30 pass from Schreier (run failed), 10:15
BA--Partner 39 run (Schreier kick), 7:53.
Third Quarter
BA--Pellegrine 33 pass from Schreier (kick failed), 10:06.
BA--Partner 15 run (kick failed), 5:11.
PV--F. Ironside 22 pass from C. Ironside (pass failed), 2:27.
Fourth Quarter
BA--Shedlock 18 run (Schreier kick), 6:40.
TEAM STATISTICS PV BA
First downs 10 21
Total yards 164 471
Rushes-yards 24-27 37-383
Yards passing 137 88
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 13-21-2 5-10-0
Punts-avg. 5-20.2 2-28.5
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 3-20 6-60
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Penns Valley, Shelley 15-27, Shawver 6-(-3), Althouse 1-6, C. Ironside 1-(-6), Watson 1-0. Bellwood-Antis, Gibbons 5-95, Plummer 7-84, Pellegrine 5-29, Schreier 2-(-10), Kyle 6-61, Partner 6-87, Shedlock 1-18, Mayes 1-1, Crist 2-21, TEAM 2-(-3).
PASSING--Penns Valley, Shawver 4-7-1-53, C. Ironside 9-14-1-84. Bellwood-Antis, Schreier 5-10-0-88.
RECEIVING--Penns Valley, F. Ironside 5-96, Althouse 5-6, Shelley 1-6, Wasson 1-17, Reed 1-12. Bellwood-Antis, Pellegrine 3-67, Gibbons 1-2, Kyle 1-44.