Football - Ligonier Valley vs Bellwood-Antis

November 10, 2019

Ligonier Valley Earns District 6 Championship Game Berth with 21-20 Win over Bellwood-Antis

Ligonier Valley football is no stranger to playing in the District 6 championship game. Seniors on the current team have played for the title annually at Altoona's Mansion Park Stadium since their freshman year. Their typical path to Altoona generally consists of rolling through league play and post-season opponents in methodical fashion, with mercy-ruled games being the norm rather than the exception.

But Saturday the Rams had to navigate around a pothole in their path, as they faced a Bellwood-Antis team with aspirations of Altoona on their minds too. The two teams, sporting identical 11-0 records coming in, battled fiercely in a turnover-filled game whose outcome was not decided until the final minutes, as Ligonier Valley held off Bellwood-Antis for a 21-20 victory in front of an enthusiastic crowd in near freezing temperatures.

Ligonier Valley entered Weller Field for their final home game of the season with every player carrying an American flag in a Veterans Day salute that revved up the crowd.

After the Rams won the coin toss and deferred, Bellwood-Antis took the ball and mounted a scoring drive in the opening 4 minutes of the game, capped by an 11-yard Trevor Miller to Owen Shedlock touchdown pass. The Blue Devils' PAT kick attempt was no good, and the Rams trailed for the first time all season, 6-0.

After a lost fumble stalled a first quarter drive, the Rams got on the board at 7:42 to play in the second quarter when Sam Sheeder hit Matt Marinchak with an 11-yard touchdown pass. John Beard added the PAT kick as the Rams took the lead 7-6.

The Blue Devils had an opportunity to retake the lead at 4:01 to play in the half as they attempted a 28-yard field goal, but Mike Petrof got his hand on the kicked ball to block it. With no other scoring in the half, the teams went to the locker room with the Rams leading 7-6.

Ligonier Valley put some distance on the Blue Devils in the third quarter when Sheeder again hit Marinchak with a touchdown pass, this time for 31 yards, as Beard's boot made the lead 14-6.

Bellwood-Antis came back to tie it at 14 with 7:43 to play in the fourth quarter as Zach Mallon carried in from the 1 yard line, then caught a two-point conversion pass from Miller.

Ligonier Valley jumped back in front with 6:18 to play as Kyrie Miller carried for a 5-yard touchdown, after setting it up on his 47-yard pass completion and sideline sprint. Beard's kick made it 21-14 Rams.

The Blue Devils charged right back on the next possession as Miller hit Mallon with a 65-yard pass for a touchdown. This time Bellwood-Antis went for the game tying extra point kick, but the Rams' Mike Petrof once again got a hand on the kicked ball and the attempt was blocked.

The Blue Devis weren't done yet as they retook possession deep in Rams territory when Sheeden was picked off by Mallon and Bellwood-Antis took over at the Rams 20 yard line with 4:09 to play. The Blue Devils moved to a first and goal in the final minutes, but the Rams defense fought back, holding the Blue Devils out of the end zone and setting up a 4th-and-11 play to win the game. Perhaps out of respect for Petrof's earlier kick-blocking prowess in deciding against a field goal attempt, the Blue Devils' upset hopes were dashed as Miller's final pass attempt fell incomplete in the end zone and the Rams took over at their 11 yard line.

A Kyrie Miller rushing first down allowed the Rams to kneel and run out the clock, and the teams embraced while time expired.

Ligonier Valley improves to 12-0 and will play Richland, who dethroned them last year in the title game, Friday, November 15, for the District 6 championship trophy. Bellwood-Antis closes their season with a record of 11-1.

Follow this link for a full gallery of action photos from this game, available for purchase or sharing.

Keywords: bellwood antis, boys, football, high school, ligonier valley, westmoreland county