Following the last match, the score stood tied at 34-34. With seven wins on the night, the criteria point went the way of the Red Raiders, who took down the top ten Bison, 35-34, to improve to 9-2 on the season.

There was a point deep in the match where Bellefonte trailed by six. However, with just three competitive bouts to go, the Red Raiders locked in, and the result was a match-sealing run.

At 172, Jack McHail posted a third-period pin against Clearfield’s Tim Taylor, tying the match at 28-28. The final two matches of the night were thrillers, with 189 and 215 needing a full six minutes to be decided.

Senior Jackson Long gave Bellefonte its first lead since the match’s third bout with a 5-1 decision over Clearfield’s Brayden Willis. Then, at 215, Luke Hockenberry delivered the knockout punch, posting a 7-2 decision against Ryan Ludwig to make it 34-28. With the Red Raiders surrendering a forfeit at 285, those two bouts made all the difference.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Bellefonte wrestling team takes the mat ahead of a dual match against Clearfield on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 35-34.

Up until that run, the teams practically traded wins every match, only broken by a two-match Clearfield run from 127 to 133.

Alongside McHail, Collin Harter (107), Blake Glace (121) and Wyatt Long (139) all picked up pins for Bellefonte, all three which came in the first period. And Ezra Swisher added a fifth bonus-point victory, edging out an 8-0 major decision against No. 17 Colton Bumbarger to earn an extra point that proved crucial, rounding out the team’s wins.

The Red Raiders (9-2) return to action next Tuesday, where they’ll play host to rival Bald Eagle Area (6-5). That match is set for 7 p.m.

Bellefonte 35, Clearfield 34

107: Colin Harter (B) pinned Jahaziah Dorsey (C), 1:19. 114: Matt Rowles (C) pinned Rylan Lucas (B), 0:11. 121: Blake Glace (B) pinned Paxton Parada (C), 1:42. 127: Bo Aveni (C) pinned Austin Broder (B), 1:27. 133: Bryndin Chamberlain (C) pinned Dylan Hockenberry (B), 0:33. 139: Wyatt Long (B) pinned Noah Troxell (C), 0:32. 145: Cash Diehl (C) pinned Tanner Clarkson (B), 0:25. 152: Ezra Swisher (B) maj. dec. Colton Bumbarger (C), 8-0. 160: Colton Ryan (C) maj. dec. Gavin Lucas (B), 29-20. 172: Jack McHail (B) pinned Tim Taylor (C), 4:02. 189: Jackson Long (B) dec. Brayden Wills (C), 5-1. 215: Luke Hockenberry (B) dec. Ryan Ludwig (C), 7-2. 285: Matthew Peace (C) won by forfeit.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Jack McHail works a pin at 172 during a dual match against Clearfield on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 35-34.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Jackson Long gets his hand raised during a dual match against Clearfield on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 35-34.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Luke Hockenberry wrestles Clearfield's Ryan Ludwig at 215 during a dual match on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 35-34.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Collin Harter wrestles Clearfield's Jahaziah Dorsey at 107 during a dual match on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 35-34.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Ezra Swisher wrestles Clearfield's Colton Bumbarger at 152 during a dual match on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Bellefonte. The Red Raiders won 35-34.