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BELLEFONTE -- Bellwood-Antis was never going to overlook Bellefonte, especially after the Red Raiders knocked off Richland last week in one of the biggest upsets of the season in District 6.
The Blue Devils took care of business and held serve on their third spot in the District 6 Class 2A standings, grinding out a 27-3 win on the road at Bellefonte on Friday evening at Rogers Stadium.
"We were going to buckle down no matter what," B-A coach Nick Lovrich said. "It's that point of the year where every win is big. You try to get all the points that you can, and this is a big point-getter for us if we want to try to maintain one of those top-3 spots."
The Blue Devils were held to just a 7-0 lead at halftime after two fumbles cost them a chance to extend their lead. But the Bellwood defense was stifling in its place.
Ethan Shawley picked off his own batted screen pass on the first drive of the game when Bellefonte was driving the field, turning a Bellefonte possession at the B-A 24-yard line into the Blue Devils getting the ball in Raider territory.
Bellefonte didn't see any more opportunities to score until the final minute of the game when Tristan Liadis kicked a 21-yard field goal to avoid the shutout.
The Blue Devils ran for 195 yards in the game, including Alex McCartney crossing the century mark with 27 carries for 103 yards. Quarterback Bradyn Partner added 50 more yards on the ground.
Play of the game: Bellwood had fourth-and-3 at the Bellefonte 28 on its first possession of the second half and holding a 7-0 lead. Partner found a wide-open Shawley on a seam for a 28-yard touchdown that put the Blue Devils up 14-0.
Player of the game: McCartney's 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns led the way for the Blue Devils. Give an honorable mention pick to Shawley for the interception and the touchdown on fourth down.
Unsung heroes: Bellwood's defense didn't allow a first down in either of the second or third quarters, and held Bellefonte to 132 total yards with most of them coming in the first half.
Most vital statistic: It's hard to score when you never have the ball. Bellefonte didn't get its first first down of the second half until there were five minutes left in the game and the Devils leading 27-0.
Lovrich: "Bellefonte is the No. 1 school in 4A in District 6, and any time you play a 4A school with a school our size, I think it's a great win for our kids. Our kids played really well."
Bellefonte coach Tony Confer: "Bellwood was more physical than us tonight, and that was one of my concerns. Our kids have been physical all year, but that team over there is always physical."
McCartney: "It feels great to beat a team like that. They're a hard-nosed football program. You definitely have to lock in against a team like that."
Notable: Partner threw the ball 11 times, completing eight passes for 78 yards and the touchdown to Shawley.
Records: Bellwood-Antis (7-2); Bellefonte (5-4)
Next week: Bellwood-Antis plays at Central Cambria on Friday, while Bellefonte plays at Bishop McCort on Thursday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bellwood-Antis 7 0 14 6 -- 27
Bellefonte 0 0 0 3 -- 3
First Quarter
BA--McCartney 10 run (Smearman kick), 3:13
Third Quarter
BA--Shawley 28 pass from Partner (Smearman kick), 7:12
BA--McCartney 1 run (Smearman kick), 1:00
Fourth Quarter
BA--Plummer 7 run (bad snap on PAT/kick failed), 6:12
B--Liadis 21 field goal, :41
TEAM STATISTICS BA B
First downs 19 8
Total yards 273 132
Rushes-yards 46-195 23-72
Yards passing 78 60
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 8-11-0 7-19-1
Punts-avg. 2-36.5 6-33.8
Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-0
Penalties-yards 4-30 4-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Bellwood-Antis, McCartney 27-103, Partner 9-50, Crist 5-31, Ch. Plummer 3-9, Dorminy 1-3, TEAM 1-(-1). Bellefonte, Speerstra 9-51, Park 5-11, Jasseh 1-6, Al. Howell 4-5, Jodon 3-3, Ammerman 1-(-4).
PASSING--Bellwood-Antis, Partner 8-11-0-78. Bellefonte, Al. Howell 5-14-1-33; Park 2-5-0-27.
RECEIVING--Bellwood-Antis, Shawley 3-40, Waite 2-16, Shedlock 2-13, Dorminy 1-9. Bellefonte, Langille 3-24, Jodon 3-22, Ammerman 1-14.