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CLEARFIELD - After bouncing back from a tough home opener in Week Two, Bellefonte football couldn't maintain that success in the follow up. A rain-impacted affair at Mansion Park last Saturday saw the Red Raiders experience a tie for their most lopsided loss in three seasons, as Class A power Bishop Guilfoyle (2-1) ran away with a 35-0 win.
The road gets slightly more manageable from here, but Week Four presents another challenge, nonetheless. In its quest to get back to .500, Bellefonte (1-2) will have to go through a Clearfield team that's had consistent success over the last few decades to get there.
Though the Bison have gotten off to a similarly shaky start to kick off 2026, their three previous seasons with Myles Caragein at the helm have all featured at least eight wins and a playoff victory. That includes a District 9 Class 4A title and state quarterfinal appearance in 2024, which saw them win 12 straight games.
This Clearfield squad is younger than years past, but that young squad has shown promise. Freshman quarterback Dylan Foust is coming off a breakout performance accumulate 300 yards of total offense and three touchdowns against Philipsburg-Osceola, and he has some sure hands to throw to on the outside.
Elijah Glunt has already surpassed his sophomore numbers in 2026, turning 17 receptions into 268 yards and two scores while averaging almost 90 receiving yards per game. Freshman Curtis Putt finished Week 3 with eight receptions, 73 yards and two scores, and Ryan Ludwig punched in a score to help the Bison double their previous season high with 28 points.
Turnovers and defense seem to be their biggest concerns, as Foust threw two interceptions and Clearfield surrendered 325 rushing yards in its 48-28 loss to the Mounties. After going up 14-0 in Week 3, Philipsburg-Osceola scored 21 unanswered, and its run game did the rest.
Given Bellefonte's success running the ball the first two weeks, that could be a good sign for the Red Raiders. But they'll have to build their way back up after getting shut down against the Marauders.
After rushing for almost 500 yards combined and over six yards per carry in Weeks One and Two, Bishop Guifoyle held them to 18 yards on 31 attempts last Saturday. Sophomore back Bentlee Hall nears 200 rushing yards through three games, Alten Howell nears 150 with three scores and Parker Jodon and Ashten Howell have left their mark on the ground and in receiving.
Defensively, Bellefonte had success hindering Bishop Guifoyle in the pass game and forced two turnovers, but turnover struggles of its own and failing to slow down BG's rushing attack held it back. Dual threat quarterback Justin Wheeler surpassed 100 yards on the ground against the Red Raiders, so another dual threat QB will be a good test for the team on Friday.
Friday's game at Clearfield is set to kick off at 7 p.m.