Heading into Week 9, one of the biggest focuses for Bellefonte football has been simply getting healthy. In last Friday’s road loss at Richland, starting quarterback Quinn Park and another two-way starter each exited the game with injuries, with another missing the game entirely.

However, despite the injuries and heartbreaking loss, the Red Raiders head into Friday’s contest at Bellwood-Antis (4-4) with plenty of momentum, looking to build off their two most complete performances of 2025. Their chances likely revolve around the statuses of those that missed/exited last week’s contest, but don’t write them off if they end up missing Week 9.

“We need to heal up this week and prepare for another tough football game against Bellwood Antis next Friday,” said Bellefonte football head coach Tony Confer on the upcoming matchup. “They are a big and physical football team with some really good athletes.”

While not as consistent as it was in the late 2010s, Bellwood-Antis (4-4) has had a solid campaign up to this point.

It defeated Clearfield (6-2) in its opener, Tyrone in Week 5 and its four losses came against opponents with a combined record of 25-7, never featuring a gap of more than 15 points. That 15-point loss came against undefeated Bishop McCort, the least lopsided defeat handed out by the Crusher. And its other three losses to Huntingdon (6-2), Philipsburg-Osceola (4-4) and Bishop Guilfoyle (7-1) were by just one score.

The Blue Devils are fresh off their best offensive output of the season, where they scored 46 in a win over Chestnut Ridge. Alex McCartney and Chase Plummer have been a problematic two-headed month to stop in their backfield, with McCartney sitting 116 yards away from 1,000 with seven 100-yard games and 15 touchdowns.

For the Red Raiders (3-5), the biggest question comes in how it’ll handle potential holes on offense. Alongside Park, leading rusher Kav’en Smith-Kirk also missed the team’s Week 8 contest.

Park has been impactful in a brief stint as the team’s starting quarterback, and Smith-Kirk has been an x-factor in multiple contests. If they miss Friday’s contest, expect the Howell brothers, Ashten and Alten, to lead the charge. Ashten accumulated over 100 offensive yards last Friday, and Alten helped the team rally under center against Penns Valley a threw a 74-yard touchdown to Ashten against Bald Eagle Area.

The defense is also looking to build on multiple noteworthy performances. It held Philipsburg-Osceola to just 15 points in Week 7 and forced five turnovers against Richland (7-1) in Week 8.

“Guys like Logan Rarrick, Ian Valimont, Ashten Howell, Gavin DuFour and Jackson Long played a terrific football game,” said Confer on the team’s defensive performance against the Rams.