By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
BELLWOOD - The Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils wore down the Glendale Vikings Friday night at Memorial Stadium with a 41-13 victory thanks in part to big plays on the ground and through the air.
Blue Devils running back Casey Gray racked up 160 yards on 12 carries, including a 95-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that opened up the game for undefeated Bellwood-Antis.
The Vikings received the opening kickoff and started their first drive from their own 30-yard line. However, Glendale couldn't get anything going on the ground, and a back shoulder throw to receiver Doug Twigg fell incomplete, forcing Glendale to go three-and-out.
Bellwood-Antis got its first drive started at its own 41. On the first play from scrimmage, Vikings linebacker Damon Braniff wrapped up Gray for a four-yard loss. Tanner Snyder got 11 yards back for the Blue Devils on the very next play, and a nine-yard pass from Seth Worthing to Snyder got the inaugural first down of the game.
The Viking defense was able to stop the Blue Devils attack, setting up fourth-and-8 from the Glendale 39-yard line. Bellwood-Antis tried a fake punt with a direct snap to Gray, but was only able to muster six of the eight yards needed.
The Vikings got their offense going on their second drive, only to end up turning the ball over. Quarterback Gary Witherow took a keeper on second-and-13 from their own 32-yard line for a 26-yard gain.
Glendale then shot itself in the foot with a chop block penalty and eventually ended up with a third-and-17 from the Blue Devils 48. Snyder then picked off the Witherow pass on the Vikings first turnover of the game. Glendale head coach Matt Irvine said the interception was a momentum shifter in the contest.
"We were right with them," said Irvine. "After the interception, I think we kind of put our heads down into a little shell. We just didn't play tonight after that."
After the 35-yard return by Snyder, the Blue Devils set up shop at the Viking 25-yard line. Gray busted a 16-yard run and added a few more yards to the end of it as the Vikings hit Gray out of bounds, setting up first-and-goal at the 4.
Three plays later, Tyler Campbell ran to the left for a 3-yard score with 3:51 left in the first quarter. Campbell tacked on the extra point to give Bellwood-Antis a seven-point lead.
Glendale was once again able to move the pigskin as it started from its own 26-yard line. Witherow connected with Taylor Jersey for a 14-yard pass on second-and-9, giving the Vikings their initial first down on the drive.
Glendale looked like it was beating itself with two penalties (one for a false start, one for a hold) for 15 yards, but Witherow was able to scamper downfield on another quarterback keeper, this one going for 43 yards and taking the Vikings down to the Blue Devil 17.
The drive stalled out inside the red zone, as a six-yard loss by Braniff gave the Vikings fourth-and-15 at the Bellwood-Antis 22. Witherow tried to hook up with Jersey in the end zone, but the pass was overthrown, giving the ball back to the Blue Devils.
Bellwood-Antis looked to be stopped on third-and-10 at their own 22-yard line, but a nice touch pass from Worthing allowed receiver Haden DeGennaro to run underneath the ball and haul it in for a 38-yard gain to the Viking 40.
Two plays later, Worthing ran the option and pitched it to Gray, who took the handoff and cashed it in from 19 yards out. Campbell's extra point try hit the left upright, giving the Blue Pirates a 13-0 lead.
A 49-yard kickoff return by Witherow gave the Vikings prime field position at the Bellwood 40-yard line. However, Glendale stalled on the drive, as Witherow was sacked for a six-yard loss by Ethan Hunter to give the Vikings fourth-and-12 at the Blue Devils 43-yard line.
Matt Kimberly's 38-yard punt pinned Bellwood-Antis on its own 5-yard line, but it would only need one play to score. Gray took a draw up the middle 95 yards to the house, breaking tackle after tackle with 6:20 left in the second quarter. Campbell's extra point gave the Blue Pirates a 20-0 lead.
Both teams traded possessions, giving Glendale the ball at its own 40-yard line. The Vikings went for it on fourth-and-1 at midfield, but Dan Beech tackled Witherow in the backfield for a one-yard loss.
The Blue Devils needed two plays to find the end zone yet again. This time Bellwood-Antis took it to the air with a 10-yard completion to Campbell. On the next play, Worthing dumped it off to Ian O'Shea in the flats. A missed tackle by Glendale and 39 yards later, Bellwood-Antis held a 27-0 lead with 52 seconds left in the first half.
Instead of taking a knee and calling it a half, Glendale finally got on the board before halftime.
Starting at their own 33-yard line, Braniff broke off a 21-yard run and a six-yard run, getting the Vikings into Bellwood territory at the 40.
Three plays later, Witherow found Twigg over the middle in the back of the end zone for a 26-yard strike with 11.7 seconds left in the half. The extra point try failed, as the Blue Pirates took a 27-6 lead into the half.
Defense took over as both teams couldn't do anything on their opening possessions of the second half.
Glendale was pinned to its own 11 and was forced to punt. Kimberly's punt only went 22 yards, giving the ball to the Blue Devils at the Glendale 33-yard line. Eight plays later, Worthing took it in on a quarterback sneak from two yards out, for a 34-6 Blue Devil lead with 5:21 left in the third quarter.
Glendale was back to third-and-11 at its own 43-yard line on its next drive. This time, Witherow was picked off by Cameron Worthing, who took it 33 yards to the Viking 40-yard line.
Three plays later, DeGennaro took a reverse 28 yards into the end zone with 2:13 left in the third quarter. Campbell's extra point gave the Blue Devils a 41-6 lead, as the mercy rule then kicked in for the remainder of the contest.
Glendale ended the game with its best drive of the night, going 90 yards on seven plays to find the end zone. Witherow got 51 yards on two carries while Braniff had four carries for 41 yards. Braniff scored from three yards out with 1:25 left in the game.

Derrian Matchock's extra point set the final at 41-13.
Irvine said his squad didn't do itself any favors in the contest either, as they had six penalties for 51 yards. He also wasn't pleased with the overall performance.
"We had stupid penalties here and there," said Irvine. "Gave up some big plays ... Just not executing properly ... We just didn't play well tonight."
With the loss, Glendale fell to 5-4 and needs help in making playoffs.
"We lost this one, and now we just gotta clear our heads," said Irvine. "We get one more game. If we get some help ... We just need to clear our heads and get back to the basics and play like we can. Because the past two weeks, I don't think we really have."
Glendale plays Ferndale next Saturday at Johnstown High School's Trojan Stadium.
Bellwood-Antis improved to 9-0 on the season.

Bellwood-Antis 41
Glendale 13

Score By Quarters
Glendale            0  6   0 7-13
Bellwood-Antis    7 20 14 0-41

First Quarter
BA-Campbell 3 run, (Campbell kick), 3:51.
Second Quarter
BA-Gray 19 run, (kick failed), 8:44.
BA-Gray 95 run, (Campbell kick), 6:20.
BA-O'Shea 39 pass from S. Worthing, (Campbell kick), 0:52.
G-Twigg 26 pass from Witherow, (kick failed), 0:11.7.
Third Quarter
BA-S. Worthing 2 run, (Campbell kick), 5:21.
BA-DeGennaro 28 run, (Campbell kick), 2:13.
Fourth Quarter
G-Braniff 3 run, (Matchock kick), 1:25.

TEAM STATISTICS
G BA
Total First Downs 11 14
Rushes-Yards 38-215 37-277
Comp-Att-Int 6-17-2 6-9-0
Passing Yards 61 111
Total Plays-Yards 55-276 46-388
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Punts-Avg 3-30 3-33.7
Penalties-Yards 6-51 1-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Glendale-Witherow 9-111, Braniff 23-84, Twigg 4-21, Hommer 1-1, Rojas 1-(-2).
Bellwood-Antis-Gray 12-160, Stapleton 3-34, Campbell 4-32, DeGennaro 4-31, Snyder 2-14, Lardieri 2-10, Beech 1-4, McMillan 3-2, Mock 1-1, S. Worthing 5-(-11).
Passing
Glendale-Witherow 6-of-17, 61 yds., 1 TD, 2 Int.
Bellwood-Antis-S. Worthing 5-of-8, 108 yds., 1 TD, O. Worthing 1-of-1, 3 yds.
Receiving
Glendale-Twigg 2-40, Jersey 3-25, Braniff 1-(-4).
Bellwood-Antis-O'Shea 1-39, DeGennaro 1-38, Parson 1-12, Campbell 1-10, Snyder 1-9, O. Worthing 1-3.