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CLEARFIELD -- The Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils picked up a big win to start the 2025 season on Friday night against the Clearfield Bison at the Bison Sports Complex, 28-21.
With the score 21-21 in the waning minutes, Blue Devil running back Alex McCartney cashed in with 31.6 seconds left on a diving 9-yard touchdown run, just crossing the goal line.
It was one of three touchdowns on the night for the junior Blue Devil as he paced the way with 27 carries for 116 yards.
Bellwood-Antis led 14-7 at the half despite Clearfield picking up just three first downs. Bison running back Colton Ryan notched 88 yards on 18 carries -- 17 of which came in the second half as the Bison tightened up the contest.
The Blue Devils' final scoring drive saw them go 60 yards on 10 plays to chew up over four minutes of clock as Clearfield's last ditch effort saw McCartney knock the ball away from the Hail Mary attempt from quarterback Xavier Curry.
Play of the game: McCartney picked up 11 yards on third-and-11 from the team's own 39-yard line by running out of the wildcat and through defenders on the team's final drive, otherwise likely giving the ball back to Clearfield to give the Bison a shot at the win in the waning minutes.
Player of the game: McCartney had 27 carries for 116 yards and three of the four Blue Devil touchdowns.
Unsung hero: Bellwood-Antis quarterback Bradyn Partner was on point when he needed to be, going 7-of-11 for 117 yards, including a 52-yard bomb to Jeffrey Waite in stride.
Most vital statistic: The Blue Devils won the turnover battle, 3-2, and outgained the Bison 284-183 on the night.
Bellwood-Antis coach Nick Lovrich: "We knew this was gonna be a dog fight. Clearfield has such a great program. Our kids, they came out ready to battle, and just like (Clearfield) did, it was a classic game … We'll celebrate this one tonight and tomorrow a little bit and then we'll get ready for the next game."
Clearfield coach Myles Caragein: "This group has done a great job, fighting, competing, being coachable. I just need to do a better job to put them in position to make sure we can execute. I would take back some calls in the first half … We can fix mistakes, play calling, but the fact that they never gave up and kept fighting is what we're going to build off if we keep going forward."
Back in the day: While this was the first meeting between Bellwood-Antis and Clearfield, the Bison did play Bellwood High School in 1913 and won the game 17-12 on their way to an 8-2 season under head coach John Case.
Bellwood High School and Antis Township high schools merged in 1937 according to Lovrich, so that marks the official start of B-A's football history.
Notable: Clearfield had just three first downs in the first half while the script flipped in the second half as Bellwood-Antis had just five -- with four of those in the final drive.
Records: Bellwood-Antis (1-0), Clearfield (0-1)
Next week: Bellwood-Antis hosts McCort-Carroll. Clearfield visits Bedford.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bellwood-Antis 6 15 0 7--28
Clearfield 7 7 7 0--21
First Quarter
BA--McCartney 1 run (run failed), 6:42.
C--Broad 67 interception return (Diehl kick), 3:27.
Second Quarter
BA--Plummer 16 run (McCartney run), 8:52.
C--Broad 26 pass from Curry (Diehl kick), 6:19.
BA--McCartney 1 run (Smearman kick), 0:18.9.
Third Quarter
C--Ryan 4 run (Diehl kick), 3:25.
Fourth Quarter
BA--McCartney 9 run (Smearman kick), 0:31.6
TEAM STATISTICS BA C
First downs 19 14
Total net yards 284 183
Rushes-yards 47-167 32-133
Passing 117 50
Comp-Att-Int 7-11-1 3-16-1
Fumbles-lost 3-1 3-1
Penalties-Yards 9-53 4-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Bellwood-Antis, McCartney 27-116, Plummer 10-66, Crist 2-2, Schreier 1-2, Gibbons 2-1, Dorminy 1-(-2), Partner 4-(minus 20). Clearfield, Ryan 18-88, Curry 7-51, Broad 6-8, Team 1-(minus 14).
PASSING--Bellwood-Antis, Partner 7-11-1-117. Clearfield, Curry 3-15-2-50, Team 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING--Bellwood-Antis, Waite 1-52, Gibbons 3-42, Mayes 1-10, Shawley 1-9, Plummer 1-4. Clearfield, Broad 2-38, Diehl 1-12.