TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Ashten Howell (6) runs the ball during a football game against Bald Eagle Area on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. Howell totalled 105 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 33-29 loss at Richland on Friday.

JOHNSTOWN – After bouncing back with a well-rounded win over Philipsburg-Osceola in Week 7, Bellefonte football faced an uphill battle in looking to build on it, with a road matchup against one of the top teams in the Laurel Highlands in Richland (7-1). However, the Red Raiders proved up to the task, giving the Rams all they could handle.

In a Week 8 classic that featured six lead changes, Bellefonte (3-5) found itself with a 23-20 lead midway through the fourth quarter. It wouldn’t last, as Richland put up 13 unanswered points and went on to win, 33-29. But the Red Raiders continued their upward build, putting together a strong outing overall on a night impacted by injuries.

“Richland is a good football team that is very well coached. Our kids fought all night long and had opportunities to win this football game,” said Bellefonte head coach Tony Confer on the performance. “These kids deserved to win this game, a game that no one gave them a shot at winning. I love this team; my heart breaks for them tonight.”

Its biggest points of success were forced turnovers and early offensive fireworks.

The defense recovered three fumbles, and Ashten Howell and Gavin DuFour came up with interceptions, creating five turnovers on the night. And through the first 30 minutes of game time, the Red Raiders accumulated 23 points, keeping up with a high-powered Richland offense that averaged 35 points per game entering Friday’s game at every turn.

In his second start under center, junior Quinn Park was electric, leading the Red Raiders with 138 rushing yards on 22 attempts while also adding 60 through the air.

He kicked off the scoring with a 61-yard touchdown run in the game’s first minute. Then, with the team trailing 20-16 in the third, he found Ashten Howell streaking down the middle of the field for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Howell added a one-yard touchdown run in the second, totaling 105 yards on 14 touches.

“Offensively, Quinn Park played a solid game at QB with a cast on his hand,” said Confer. “Ashten Howell also played well offensively in his first game without a cast since Week 1.”

Bellefonte’s fortunes would ultimately turn midway through the third while leading 23-20, as Park went down with an injury. The team changed quarterbacks for the fourth time this season, and the offense stalled from there, with the team’s last touchdown of the game coming on a kickoff return from Jackson Long.

“Unfortunately, when Quinn had to leave the game in the third quarter, our offensive execution suffered, and we failed to come up with plays down the stretch,” said Confer. “That was the difference in the game.”

With the offense stalling, the defense did what it could to keep Bellefonte a step ahead, forcing two of its five turnovers between that moment and the midway point of the fourth. But Richland eventually broke through, taking a two-score lead late, and Bellefonte couldn’t make up the deficit in the end.

It was a tough way to conclude what was a breakout night for the Red Raiders, but they’ll take plenty of pride and momentum away from the loss. After posting a well-rounded performance against the Mountaineers in Week 7, they one-upped that outing a week later, putting together its most complete performance of the 2025 campaign.

“The injury bug struck again tonight, which would have caused most teams to fold. But these kids have been dealing with this type of adversity week in and week out this season,” said Confer.

“Games and seasons like this are what mold these young men into tremendous human beings and successful members of society as they get older. But none of that makes losing this game any easier.”

Heading into Week 9, the team will look to rest up, recover and carry the success of the last two weeks into a strong end to the regular season. Next up, the Red Raiders face Bellwood-Antis (4-4) on the road, with that game set for 7 p.m. on Friday.

Richland 33, Bellefonte 29

B 6 10 7 6 – 29

R 14 0 6 13 – 33

First quarter

B – Quinn Park 61 run (PAT no good), 11:03.

R – Grayson Mahla 2 run (Mitchell Timcik kick), 6:53.

R – Mahla 9 run (Timcik kick), 3:15.

Second quarter

B – Ashten Howell 1 run (Will Oskin kick), 8:06.

B – Will Oskin 30 field goal, 1:00*

Third quarter

R – Jacob Regan 22 run (2-PT no good), 8:32.

B – Park to Ashten Howell 44 pass (Oskin kick), 6:28.

Fourth quarter

R – Regan to Jamere Christian 6 pass (Timcik kick), 6:13.

R – Ragan 3 run (Timcik kick), 1:58.

B – Jackson Long 83 kickoff return (PAT no good), 1:40.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Bellefonte, Quinn Park 22-138, TD; Ashten Howell 8-32, TD; Carson Crawford 2-3; Isaac Gall 1-2; Alten Howell 5-(-2). TOTAL 38-173, 2 TDs.

PASSING – Bellefonte, Quinn Park 4-10-0 68 yards, TD. Alten Howell 2-2-0 6 yards; Ashten Howell 1-1-0 5 yards. TOTAL 7-13-0 79 yards, TD.

RECEIVING – Bellefonte, Ashten Howell 5-68, TD; Isaac Gall 2-9.

INTERCEPTIONS – Ashten Howell 1, Gavin DuFour 1.