This Friday, Bellwood-Antis will take on Cambria Heights in the District 6 2A semifinals at Cambria Heights Stadium in Patton. B-A is striving for a win more than ever this week, as it would send them to the championship game for the first time since 2012.
The Blue Devils are fresh off one of their biggest wins of the year, demolishing River Valley 43-14 last Friday. That game proved to fans that Bellwood-Antis is more than capable of winning when it matters most. The offense has displayed a lethal dual threat in the receiving column, with Ethan Shawley and Cayden Pellegrine killing defenses, combining for over 850 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Their success is tied closely to the breakout year being experienced by Holden Schreier, who has completed 98 of 163 passes for 1,564 yards.
However, the Highlanders counter this with some receivers of their own. Trey Trybus has put up 502 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, and Stephen Nelen has accounted for 371 yards and 7 touchdowns. These are very significant numbers and they play a big role in the team’s undefeated record, as does the performance of quarterback Isaac Weiland, who has 1,255 yards through the air.
Bellwood-Antis Head Coach Nick Lovrich is not worried about that though, focusing instead on the play of his own team.
“This game is about us playing our best and about everyone being fundamentally sound,” he said. “We’ve been focusing on making this our best game yet.”
Each team mainly relies on one standout running back to do the heavy lifting. For the Devils, that man is Colin Gibbons. He has rushed for 639 yards this season, which has resulted in 7 touchdowns. For the Highlanders, Stephen Nelen is once again their guy. He has put up 627 yards and 9 touchdowns so far this year, but three other rushers have more than 250 yards this season.
As the Blue Devils advance further into the playoffs, there is more at stake in each game. Each team is playing with more drive and more passion, because they know what’s on the line.
Come out and watch this intense second game of the playoff at Cambria Heights High School, this Friday.
