Bellefonte Travels To Central For LHAC Week One Matchup

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Baron Dionis | August 23, 2024

High school football is back tonight at 7 PM. For the first week, we have a Laurel Highlands matchup between the Bellefonte Red Raiders and the Central Scarlet Dragons. These two teams are very familiar with each other as they were in the Mountain Conference before moving to the Laurel Highlands. Both are on the east side, but are in different sections. They faced off in week one last year and Central won by a score of 49-0.

Both teams have changed a lot from last year, which could make this matchup more competitive. Central lost many seniors, while Bellefonte returned more players. Let’s preview this week one matchup between the Red Raiders and the Dragons.

Central Dragons

The Dragons head into Friday night with a brand new looking offense. The only returning starters are quarterback Eli Muthler and tight end Jaxon Detterline. The entire skilled group and offensive line is with new coming players. The defense is the same way, but they return a few more key players than the offense. Muthler returns at free safety and Detterline returns as a defensive end with linebackers Lukas Black and Braydon Beach.

To continue the Dragons recent success, they will need senior running backs, Beach and Thaide Mickel to find holes between the inexperienced offensive line. With Muthler having an excellent arm, receiver Jay Hoenstine needs to step up to fill in for Jack Dunn and Jacob Benton from last season. 

If the offensive line can hold its own, the Dragons should be able to win this game. Stopping the run with a new defensive line will be the turning point in this game. Bellefonte can run, but it could be a challenge to stop with the Dragons new line. The new guys must step up to continue Central’s run at a fifth straight district six championship. Jerry Albright also makes his head coaching debut this evening, which is very exciting to see the new direction of the Dragons future.  

Bellefonte Red Raiders

Bellefonte heads into Friday night looking to get back to their winning ways. They won just two games a year ago, but return a few solid pieces that could help them get back to winning. Although the defense allowed 30 points in six games last year, including Central, they return a decent amount of starters. That experience could give them an edge tonight with the Dragons inexperience.

Quarterback Liam Halterman will also help the Red Raiders move down the field. He is very good on the run and that could improve with multiple returning starters on the offensive line. Sherman Lowry, Bellefonte’s leading rusher graduated, but junior Isaac Gall should be able to fill in. Jaeden Gabrovsek was the teams leading receiver last year and is back, but with other new coming receivers.

Coach Tony Confer will need to shut down Muthler to win tonight, but to do that, returning defensive backs Aden Howell, Gabrovsek, and Jackson Long will need to give the new Central receivers a hard time. They also need to run the ball at the Dragons new defensive line too. A big test early for Bellefonte, but it should be an exciting game.

Kickoff is at 7:00 PM at Roaring Spring Athletic Field.

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