Sportsbeat Game of the Week Preview: Bellwood-Antis at Central

Bellwood-Antis and Central is a rivalry of sorts, but it hasn’t been so on the gridiron in a little more than 15 years.

“We play them in a lot of other sports,” Bellwood-Antis head coach Nick Lovrich said. “We run them in track every single year, (our) baseball team plays them. So, football was kind of like the only one that didn’t.”

Before last year’s win by Central in the matchup, the two hadn’t played since 2007.

A lot has changed since then, but a lot has stayed the same with the success and tradition of both programs. Still, both entered this year with some major question marks.

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How Central going to replace a big senior class and longtime head coach Dave Baker? How will Bellwood-Antis respond after its first losing season in more than 20 years?

Both teams have answered a lot of them so far through three weeks of the season with the Blue Devils sitting 3-0 and the Dragons winning two straight after an opening season loss to Bellefonte.

“Our goal was to get better each and every week and we definitely done that,” Central head coach Jerry Albright said.

“Last season, our guys were they were a little mad about how our season went,” Lovrich said. “They weren’t very happy with being 2-8.”

Bellwood-Antis has already surpassed its win total from last year despite its top two rushers not making it through week one. Surprisingly, that hasn’t slowed down a Blue Devils rushing attack that averages close to 250 yards a game.

“Guys have done a nice job filling the gap, you know, and it’s been a by committee like Collin Gibbons has stepped up and made some good plays,” Lovrich said. “(With) Brayden Partner, we moved him into a running back spot. He was a quarterback and he’s done some good things.”

Central has played its best football in the second halves of games this season, where Eli Muthler has shined in his second year starting at quarterback.

“Eli went from last year just filling in as a role player to more of a leader,” Albright said. “This year he’s trying to make the best reads. He’s trying to encourage his teammates, He’s trying to do what it takes to win as a team.”

With a win, it could show that Central is back on the right track to winning another District VI title, while a move to 4-0 could prove the Blue Devils are back to being great.

“We’re just looking to have our best game Friday night and move on from there,” Lovrich said.

Tune into WTAJ on Friday at 5:30 and 6 p.m. for live pregame coverage. Highlights and interviews from the action will be aired on Sportsbeat, which starts at 11 p.m.

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