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Bellwood-Antis football coach Nick Lovrich has often said that the challenges presented by competition in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference are unremitting and relentless.
There is rarely a soft week for any of the conference's teams, and the Blue Devils' recent schedule illustrates a vivid case in point.
Two weeks ago, Bellwood traveled to then unbeaten Central, fell behind 21-0 early in the game, and saw a valiant comeback bid come up just short, as the Blue Devils suffered their only loss of the season to date, 28-26.
Last week, Bellwood got up off the deck from that setback in a resounding way, building an early 37-0 lead on its home field against archrival Tyrone and cruising to a 37-14 mercy-rule victory.
This Friday night, the Blue Devils (4-1 overall and in the conference) host a talented Philipsburg-Osceola team that has won four straight games and is also 4-1 overall and in conference play.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on the John R. Hayes Field at Bellwood-Antis High School's Memorial Stadium.
"Philipsburg has a really good football team,'' Lovrich said. "I've been impressed with the physicality that they've shown. Their offensive line fires off the ball really hard and their backs block well for each other.''
Senior quarterback Archer Baughman, who has completed 20 of 40 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns, is a four-year starter for Philipsburg, while junior back Damarcus Law leads the Mounties' run-oriented offensive attack with 620 rushing yards on 66 carries for seven touchdowns.
Philipsburg's leading receiver, senior Connor Guenot, has eight catches for 150 yards.
"Damarcus Law has speed, so we have to make sure that we contain him, and though they're definitely a run-oriented team, they are also able to pass the ball,'' Lovrich said. "Their quarterback has been a starter for four years now, and he throws a good ball, so their offense is pretty well-rounded.
"They kind of run, run, run, but then they surprise you with the play-action pass,'' Lovrich added. "So you have to make sure that you're on the balls of your feet out there in the secondary, and that you're paying attention.''
Philipsburg-Osceola coach Jeff Vroman said that his team has played well in all facets of the game during its four-game winning streak.
"I think that it's just been a matter of us playing good team football,'' Vroman said. "One week, it's been the defense that shows up and makes plays when we need them. Other times, it's been the offense, and we've also gotten pretty good special teams play so far.
"Those three factors have all been pretty solid for us over the past four games.''
Baughman has provided unwavering leadership as a four-year veteran quarterback, and Vroman noted that the Mounties have yet to turn the ball over on a fumble over their first five games.
"Archer always makes sure that all our offensive formations are set up properly, and that all of our guys are in the right place,'' Vroman said. "That kind of leadership ability is something that has to be molded with a person, I think. And with all of his game experience, he has definitely shown that leadership from that quarterback position this year.''
That leadership from its quarterback has no doubt been a factor in Philipsburg-Osceola playing mistake-free football this season.
"That's been important for us,'' Vroman said. "We haven't fumbled the football away this year, so that's something that has been huge. When you're not turning over the football, you're moving the chains, you're getting those first (downs), and you're being consistent. I think that is important for any high school football team.''
Bellwood made many observers sit up and take notice by jumping on Tyrone early in the game last Friday and rolling to victory in the series known as the Backyard Brawl.
"It was definitely a nice win for us, especially coming off the Central loss,'' said Lovrich, whose Blue Devils have scored an average of over 30 points per game this season. "Our guys wanted to right the ship, and who better to do it against than your archrivals? It was a really good night for us.''
Lovrich said that Bellwood's offensive line comprised of junior center Tristan Mock, junior right guard Landon Sneath, junior tackles Sam Moser and Cayden Grager, and senior tight end Ethan Shawley did an excellent job of run blocking and providing pass protection in last week's game.
Senior Bradyn Partner, who played the entire game at quarterback for Bellwood last week, rushed for 97 yards on nine carries and a touchdown, while also completing three of six passes for 40 yards.
Standout senior back Alex McCartney rushed for 75 yards on 14 carries and two scores, while senior back Chase Plummer also ran for a touchdown and senior cornerback Jackson Dorminy returned an intercepted pass 65 yards for another touchdown.
McCartney leads Bellwood's rushing attack with 602 yards on 90 carries and nine TDs, while Partner has rushed for 386 yards on 39 carries and two scores, completed 12 of 24 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, and caught seven passes for 138 yards and two TDS.
The versatile Partner has played a variety of offensive positions for Bellwood, but has been and will, at least for the foreseeable future, occupy the quarterback position - due to an injury sustained by junior quarterback Brendan McNelis, who Lovrich said will not play again this week.
"Bradyn Partner played quarterback the whole game last week, and I thought that he did a really good job stepping in,'' Lovrich said.
Bellwood enjoys a variety of offensive options. The tight end Shawley leads the Blue Devils in pass receptions with nine catches for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Plummer has rushed for 206 yards on 36 carries and four scores, and also has seven receptions for 66 yards.
Senior wideout Jeff Waite has also caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown this season for Bellwood.
Vroman, whose Mounties have scored an average of nearly 32 points per game this season, feels that Bellwood will present a great challenge Friday.
"They have some backs who run hard, and their offensive line creates holes for them,'' Vroman said of the Blue Devils. "Now with the Partner kid at quarterback, he's a threat for them both running and throwing the ball, so their offense is going to be able to create problems for any defense.
"They have a very nice well-rounded football team, and they also play solid defense,'' Vroman said.
Bellwood has traditionally employed a smash-mouth running game, and Lovrich expects the same type of offensive attack from Philipsburg-Osceola.
"This could be an old-fashioned football game with lots of running, and we have to be able to match their physicality,'' Lovrich said. "They have running backs who hit the holes hard, so we have to make sure that we're able to keep them from making explosive plays and moving the ball consistently against us.''
Vroman also expects a tough, hard-fought game with Bellwood.
"We'll definitely have our work cut out for us, for sure,'' Vroman said.
Philipsburg-Osceola at Bellwood-Antis
When: Friday night, 7 p.m.
Where: Bellwood-Antis High School's John R. Hayes Field at Memorial Stadium.
Records: Both teams are 4-1 overall and in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference.
Coaches: Jeff Vroman is 79-111 in 19 seasons at Philipsburg-Osceola. Nick Lovrich is 65-29 in nine seasons at Bellwood-Antis.
Last week: Philipsburg-Osceola defeated Bald Eagle Area, 22-14. Bellwood-Antis defeated Tyrone, 37-14.
Last season: Philipsburg-Osceola, on its home field, defeated Bellwood-Antis, 31-28.
All-time series: Bellwood leads the all-time series, which started in 2004, by a 5-3 margin. Bellwood has won two of the three games played between the two schools since they joined the Laurel Highlands Conference.