The Blue Devils returned home Friday evening with a triumphant 20-14 win over the Huntingdon Bearcats. Huntingdon started the scoring early but were ultimately unable to answer the Blue Devils’ responding blows.
The Blue Devils opened the game with possession but following a sack by Landon Erdman, Bellwood-Antis was forced to punt. The Bearcats fought their way downfield. On the other side of the ball, Erdman was then able to power his way for a 36-yard rushing touchdown. Kaiden Snare then hit the PAT to give Huntingdon a 7-0 lead with 9:34 remaining in the quarter.
Huntingdon was then able to end Bellwood-Antis’s ensuing drive to force another punt. The Bearcats Evan Edmiston pursued for a first down but fumbled on the play. The Blue Devils recovered the ball for good field position. Cayden Pellegrine started the offensive charge with a 20-yard gain on the ground. Colin Gibbons finished the drive with a strong run on the outside for a 25-yard touchdown.
Bellwood-Antis attempted to run for two but were unable to convert. Therefore, Huntingdon had a 7-6 advantage with 4:36 left in the quarter. The following drive, BA put an end to the Bearcats offense capitalized by a sack by sophomore Ethan Shawley pushing the game to the second quarter.
The second quarter started off slow for both teams. The Blue Devils put together a solid drive but were picked off by Huntigdon’s Eric Mykut turning the ball over. BA’s defense was then able to put together a stop and give the offense another opportunity.
Bellwood-Antis fought their way down field to where Cayden Pellegrine took the handoff for a 1-yard touchdown. Quarterback Holden Schreier was then able to find Pellegrine alone in the end zone to add on 2 more. This brought the game to the half with BA governing a 14-7 lead.
The second half began with a Bearcat drive. BA’s defense did its part forcing a punt on a fourth-and-8 on the Blue Devils 47. Special teams came into action as Shawley deflected the punt before it was recovered by junior Quinn Focht on Huntingdon’s 41. “Whenever I blocked it.. everyone started screaming.. it changed the atmosphere, we knew we were still in the game, and we used that momentum shift to score that drive,” Shawley said.
The Blue Devils used this energy to roll downfield. Schreier found Griffin Kyle up the middle for a 24-yard gain. Colin Gibbons was then able to push through from 5-yards out for his second touchdown of the game resulting in a 20-7 BA command.
Gibbons following the injuries of RB Alex McCartney and Chase Plummer has come up big for the Blue Devils. He continued his successful junior campaign rushing for 111 yards. When asked what his mindset, and the adjustments he’s made to fill this new role he mentioned that he simply focuses on “getting the job done”. “It’s all about doing what I need to do for us to win,” he exclaimed. Gibbons also gave praise to his offensive line for playing well making his adjustment smooth.
The fourth quarter wrapped up with a series of successful plays by Huntingdon. The Bearcats quarterback Eric Mykut ultimately hit Erdman from 7 yards out to total the final of 20-14.
Bellwood-Antis is now one of five teams still undefeated in the Laurel Highlands. They look to continue their dominance Friday the 13th at the Central Dragons. The Dragons are 2-1 on the season led by a pass heavy offense.
