After a slow start, the Bellefonte football team found itself down 15-0 going into the intermission in the battle with a 2-1 Clearfield squad. But on the first Bison possession of the second half, the Red Raiders’ Caleb Bartley picked up an Xavier Curry fumble, rumbling for an eventual 40-yard return for a touchdown to spark his team.

With the momentum, Bellefonte tied the contest, sending the game into overtime.

However, the Bison scored in the overtime period to spoil the Red Raiders comeback bid winning 21-18.

“We went in at halftime and we had to make some adjustments. We talked to the kids and we told them they could do one of two things. We could lay down and let the game get out of hand or we could come out and fight to the end,” said Bellefonte coach Tony Confer.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Bellefonte football team takes the field before a home game against Clearfield on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders fell, 21-18, in overtime.

“They came out, and they kept fighting. The defense kept us in it. The offense eventually got going a little bit. I feel real bad for the kids right now. This one was a hard game to lose but the message was we had an opportunity to win it.”

In the comeback attempt, Red Raider running back Kaven Smith-Kirk led the charge, reinvigorating the Bellefonte run game with 191 yards on the ground. The Red Raiders finished with 237 yards on the ground overall, largely led by Smith-Kirk.

Heading into the overtime period, Bellefonte took to the offensive side first.

Starting at the 10, the Red Raiders were stopped at the 3, facing a fourth down. Bellefonte sent in the field goal unit, and kick William Osman blasted a clutch field goal, putting them ahead 18-15 with the Bison offense taking their turn on the period.

But after a 9-yard run by Cooper Broad. Clearfield quarterback Xavier Curry finished the drive, giving the Bison a 21-18 victory.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Bellefonte defense waits for action to resume during a home football game against Clearfield on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders fell, 21-18, in overtime.

Trailing 15-0 coming out of the intermission, the Red Raiders mounted their comeback.

Minutes into the third, the Bellefonte defense forced Curry into fumbling the ball. A scoop by Bartley and a 40-yard run later, cut the Bison lead to 15-7 with the PAT with 8:57 left in the third.

Bellefonte’s defense then continued to shut down the high-flying Clearfield offense that earlier, had passing the ball at will. Ultimately, Red Raiders failed to allow any more scoring in regulation.

And in the fourth, they’d take advantage of that quiet, as Ashton Howell finished off a six-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Highlighting the drive was a 40-yard run from Smith-Kirk, which set his team up for the tying score. The ensuing two-point conversion was successful, knotting the game at 15.

In the first, Clearfield got on the scoreboard first when Curry hit a 28-yard touchdown pass to Broad. The PAT attempt failed at 8:15, but it gave the Bison a 6-0 lead.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Brennan Huntingser takes a snap during a home football game against Clearfield on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders fell, 21-18, in overtime.

Bellefonte found themselves on their own two after a Bison punt. And thanks to that positioning, the Bison defense was able to put two points on the board via a safety at 3:35. And, rounding out Clearfield’s first-half scoring, its next touchdown came in the second quarter, when Colton Ream punched one in from two yards out with just under four minutes to go in the half.

With the loss, the Red Raiders fall to 1-3, having now lost three in the row. In its last two losses combined, the Red Raiders fell by a combined 11 points.

Next up for the Red Raiders is a road trip to play Penns Valley (0-4).

Clearfield 21, Bellefonte 18 (OT)

Clearfield 8 7 0 0 6 – 21

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Parker Jodun (17) breaks up a passduring a home football game against Clearfield on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders fell, 21-18, in overtime.

Bellefonte 0 0 7 8 3 – 18

First Quarter

CL – Xavier Curry 28-yards TD pass to Cooper Broad ( PAT failed), 8:15.

CL – Saftey, 3:35

Second Quarter

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Gavin Dufour (2) reaches for additional yardage during a home football game against Clearfield on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders fell, 21-18, in overtime.

CL – Colton Ream 2-yard run (CL), 3:58.

Third Quarter

BE – Caleb Bartley 40-yard fumble recovery (William Osman kick), 8:57

Fourth Quarter

BE – Ashton Howell 7-yard TD run (2-point conversion), 11:05

Overtime

BE – Osman Field goal

CL – Curry 1-yard run

TEAM STATISTICS CL BE

First downs 11 11

Total Yards 229 284

Rushes-yards 25-77 43-237

Yards passing 152 47

Comp.-att.-int.12-20-0 5-11-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1

Penalties-yards 4-35 3-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Clearfield, Colton Ryan 12-59, Cooper Broad 1-9, Xavier Curry 10-12, Brian Owens 2(-3). Bellefonte, Brennan Huntsinger 13-41, Kaven Smith-Kirk 191, Ashten Howell 3-14, Team – (-11), Parker Jodon 1-2.

PASSING: Clearfield, Curry 12-20 152. Bellefonte, Huntsinger 5-11 42.

RECEIVING: Clearfield, Ryan 1-10, Broad 5-69, Cash Diehl 1-3, Elijah Glunt 3-54. Bellefonte, Gavin DuFour 1-5, Howell 2-24, Jackson Long 1-5,Jodon 1-8.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Jackson Long (28) returns a kick while Kaven Smith-Kirk (11) blocks for him during a home football game against Clearfield on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders fell, 21-18, in overtime.