Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Northern Bedford's Dalton Smith goes up the middle before being brought down by Bellwood Antis' Zach Mallon Friday at Northern Bedford High School. B-A won its 33rd straight conference game, holding off the Panthers, 20-13.
After a third-quarter touchdown Northern Bedford's Kyler States (23) has his extra-point attempt kick blocked by Bellwood's Ty Noonan Friday at Northern Bedford High School.
Northern Bedford hung tough with undefeated Bellwood-Antis but didn't quite have enough offense to overcome the Blue Devils in a 20-13 Homecoming loss last Friday night, Sept. 27.
Other than two first-half Bellwood drives, the first half of the game was rather uneventful. Bellwood scored in the first period on a long drive, but the Panthers defense stopped the Blue Devils on downs at the 4-yard line late in the half. Bellwood had a 7-0 halftime lead.
Lightning struck in the form of Cadin Ebersole picking a Bellwood fumble up in midair and taking it 25 yards for a defensive touchdown midway through the third period. The PAT kick was blocked by the Blue Devils to preserve a 7-6 lead for them.
Bellwood answered by driving the length of the field again and scoring on a 2-yard touchdown plunge in the final seconds of the third period. The Devils went for two points and failed, leaving it as a one score ballgame entering the fourth period.
Bellwood seemingly put the game away on a 29-yard jaunt by Zach Mallon at the midpoint of the fourth period to give B-A a 20-6 lead, but the Panthers would not quit.
"We battled and hung in there," coach Garry Black said of his Black Panthers' efforts in the final minutes.
The Panthers scored just over a minute after going down by two scores on a Thad Leidy to Evan Clouse aerial hookup that covered 45 yards. Collin Yeatts' PAT kick made it a 20-13 Bellwood advantage.
Northern forced a Bellwood punt with about two -minutes remaining and the Panthers went on the attack again. A pass interference penalty on a fourth-down play gave NB new life and a first down. With 23 seconds left, Leidy tossed a short pass to Dalton Smith who was seemingly wrapped up by a Blue Devil defender but appeared to spin free and continued to the end zone, but the officials had ruled Smith down by contact thus ending the game.
Although both sides had opinions regarding the controversial ending it should be noted that a photograph acquired by both schools showed the officials to be correct as Smith's elbow was clearly on the ground as he spun.
"They're a good football team," Black continued. "They are 5-0 for a reason. We showed too little too late on offense tonight."
Northern gained more than half of their 174 total yards on its final two possessions of the game. Bellwood totaled 314 total yards.
The Panthers, now 3-3, visit Williamsburg (0-6) Friday night, Oct. 4.
Kyler States and Veronica Griffith were crowned Homecoming king and queen in a ceremony before the kickoff of the homecoming contest.
Reader Comments(0)