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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Bellwood-Antis surprised a lot of people when it went from 2-8 in 2023 to 7-3 in the regular season last year in its second year in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference.
Much of that improvement came from summer workouts and time in the weight room committed to proving the Blue Devils could compete in a new conference.
Headed into this season, the LHAC coaches picked Bellwood-Antis to win its division, ahead of defending PIAA Class 1A champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, recent multiple-time District 6 champion Central, rival Tyrone and Huntingdon.
"We kind of have the same mindset that we had even last year," Bellwood-Antis coach Nick Lovrich said. "We weren't happy with where we were (in 2023). Last year, we were a lot better. But our ultimate goal is to win the District 6 championship and make the state playoffs. We didn't do that, and we're still hungry for that."
Bellwood-Antis won its District 6 Class 2A quarterfinal game last year before falling by one score to eventual champion Cambria Heights.
Being that close to a major goal seems to have provided plenty of motivation.
"Our offseason this year was probably better than the year it was before," Lovrich said. "The number of kids we have coming to do things and the work ethic -- it's upped it to another notch, which hopefully leads to a really good season for us."
Again, the offensive and defensive lines will be a strength for the Blue Devils, and the players that make up those lines are motivated.
"We're still hungry, because it was only two years ago that we had that terrible season," B-A senior Christian Jennings said. "We had a bad welcome into this conference, and we're still out for vengeance, because we didn't completely get it last year."
Jayce Quick and Logan Ridgway return along with Jennings and have plenty of experience.
"We have three three-year starters on our offensive line coming back," Lovrich said. "Being able to have them play that first year should help us this year."
And being part of that down year two years ago assures this team won't rest on last year's success.
"Our entire line has bought into the weight room," Quick said. "The offseason is the time we get better and can make the biggest strides. There's still a lot of work to be done."