DuBois pulls away from Bellefonte

Scott Shindledecker

DuBOIS — It’s been a rough season for the Bellefonte Red Raiders, but head coach Zac Wynkoop had more to feel better about after his team hung with the DuBois Beavers in a 20-6 loss Friday night at Mansell Stadium in DuBois.

“I told the kids I was proud of their effort and the way we hung in there,” Wynkoop said.

After losing its top two quarterbacks to injury and three straight losses by a total of 96 points, the Red Raiders kept it close at halftime, trailing 13-0.

After a scoreless first quarter, DuBois scored two touchdowns in a span of about four minutes to take control.

Cam Kelly scored on a 1-yard run and Shawn Newpher added a 43-yard touchdown run with 2:18 left for the Beavers.

Despite gaining just 28 yards in the first half, Bellefonte took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and drove it 47 yards before stalling at the 27.

But it changed the field position and seemed to inspire the defense, which forced the Beavers to punt on their initial possession of the second half.

Malik Breon muffed Josh Means’ punt, but managed to recover it at the Red Raider 44.

After running for just 11 yards on 10 carries in the first half, Bellefonte started working the right side as junior running back Travis Struble and quarterback Ty Warner, back from a concussion he suffered a few weeks ago, both began to pick up significant yardage.

Struble ran for nine yards on first down, but two penalties put the Red Raiders in a fourth-and-6 from their 48. But Warner gained 17 yards on a quarterback draw to the Beaver 35.

Struble picked up 12 yards on his next two runs, then Nick Bernier’s two-yard gain put the ball at the 21.

Warner dropped back to pass, then scrambled to his left before stopping at the line of scrimmage and throwing to Zach Tressler in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.

Tressler kept his balance to come down with one foot inbounds for the score.

Tyler Lucas missed the PAT kick, but the Red Raiders trailed 13-6.

But they punted on their next two possessions and the Beavers put the game away with a late TD drive that covered 86 yards on 11 plays and took 6:15 off the clock.

Newpher scored from a yard out with 3:53 left to seal the win for DuBois.

“Not taking advantage of their turnovers in the first half was costly and we needed to protect Ty better than we did,” Wynkoop said.

Warner led the team in rushing with 53 yards on eight carries and hit 4 of 16 passes for 52 yards. Tressler caught two passes for 35 yards.

The Beavers rushed for 335 yards and totaled 398 yards but turned the ball over three times in the first half. Newpher led the team with 138 yards on 12 rushes while Kelly added 87 on eight carries.

The Red Raiders (1-5) host Central Mountain while DuBois (4-2) hosts Chestnut Ridge on Friday.