Central at Bellwood-Antis Game Preview

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Hunter Myers | September 11, 2025

“Central always has a very good defense,” Bellwood-Antis head coach Nick Lovrich said about the Dragons. Central’s head coach Jerry Albright echoed the respect, noting that “Bellwood has been building for this year for several years” with many linemen and offensive players being “multiyear starters.” The Dragons defensive line has been the backbone of their team this season, holding Johnstown to only 79 yards rushing and Tyrone to 96, but will face their toughest test of the season this week against a Bellwood team with three talented rushers: McCartney, Plummer, and their QB Partner.

Last season, Central beat Bellwood 30-12 after Central gained 366 yards with 219 of those coming through the air. The 2024 game would mark just the second time Central and Bellwood would play a game since 2007, but the series began in 1938, when Central was still named Roaring Spring High School. Throughout the late 1900s these two schools became well acquainted with one another, playing 45 games in total, with Bellwood winning 25 of those. Since Bellwood returned to the Laurel Highlands, Central has won both matches, in 2023 and 2024; however, Central’s offense is very different this year, and the Blue Devils were without their star RB Alex McCartney a year ago.

Bellwood’s Nick Lovrich said that the transition from the ICC to the Laurel Highlands was tough, that the Blue Devils “took their lumps in the beginning, so they learned what they needed to do to take it to the next level.” The ‘next level’ was the goal for this season, and the run game has certainly helped to build towards that. In the first three weeks, the Blue Devils have rushed for 453 yards and scored all six of their touchdowns on the ground. Led by junior Alex McCartney who has rushed for 357 of those yards and five touchdowns, the Bellwood offense will be seeking an improvement over the last two weeks, only scoring 6 points against Bishop McCort and Huntingdon. Defensively, Lovrich expects his team to “have all 11 players doing their job on every play” to slow down the speedy Central backfield. So far this season, junior Chase Plummer has 24 total tackles and two tackles for loss, to go along with 20 tackles from MLB Cooper Lovrich.

For Central, QB Jesse Muthler went down with an injury in Week 3, being replaced by ATH Carter Schenk who has garnered playing time at every position on the offense except for the line. This season, Schenk has thrown for 52 yards, while also rushing for three touchdowns and catching a long 67 yard touchdown in Week 1. Jerry Albright said that Schenk has “taken a lot of reps and done everything to prepare to be the starter this year. So he is definitely ready.” The rushing attack for the Dragons has shown flashes early on, but last week was held to just 86 yards on 23 carries (3.7 yards per carry) by Tyrone. Defensively, the Dragons expect to “put a lot of guys very close up to the line and force throws” expecting a much more aggressive gameplan from the Blue Devils this week. So far the Dragons have accounted for seven tackles for loss and two sacks, but have been susceptible to explosive plays, allowing three 45+ yard touchdowns this year.

This game is shaping up to be a smashmouth battle between two physical teams. Both teams sit at a 1-2 record. Expectations at Central are always high and for a Bellwood team  that entered 2025 with championship aspirations, their window to make a run is approaching. The one key: which line will be more physical?

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