The Bellwood-Antis junior high football team won their second game in as many tries on Thursday, defeating Juniata Valley 31-0.
Played at Alexandria, the game was much closer than the final score indicated with the Little Blue devils scoring 23 of their points in the final quarter.
Following a scoreless first half, Josh Kleinfelter scored on a 26-yard scamper and Devon Clapper added the two-point conversion run to give B-A an 8-0 advantage after three quarters.
The defense got the Bellwood-Antis crew going in the fourth stanza. Juniata Valley attempted a tailback pass, but Bellwood-Antis wasn’t surprised. Kleinfelter intercepted the ball and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Clapper added his second PAT run, then went around end behind solid blocking for a three-yard TD later in the quarter. With the reserves playing, Adam Mueller, who starts on defense, got a chance on the other side of the line, scoring the final B-A touchdown, going 20 yards on a power sweep and Brandon Eger added the two-point conversion rush.
“We were plagued by first-half mental mistakes,” said B-A coach Charlie Burch. “We should have scored late in the second quarter but we fumbled at their two-yard line. At halftime, we calmed the kids down and then were able to take the kickoff and marched right down for the first score. A couple series later, they tried a trick pass and Josh intercepted it and ran it back to give us some breathing room. The final score was deceptive, but we got it worked out in the second half and turned in our second big shutout win in a row.”
Evan Hughes completed three passes for 60 yards, two to Devon Clapper and the third to Josh Kleinfelter.
B-A will travel to Mount Union next Thursday for a 6 p.m. start against the Trojans.
