By BOB MILLER
Daily Herald Sports Editor
— Bellwood-Antis opened the 1976 football season by absorbing a 26-6 loss to Williamsburg.
— New head coach Jim Gardner had taken over just prior to the start of fall pre-season practice with the late resignation of Steve Hayes, who took an assistant coaching job at Kishacoquillas.
— In a hard-fought contest, the Blue Devils dropped a 13-7 decision to Backyard rival Tyrone, on September 10, 1976.
— A determined Eagle defense stopped Bellwood-Antis twice inside the Tyrone-30 and once at the T-14. The B-A defense limited the Tyrone offense to a 7-7 tie, except for one play that ended up making the difference in the game.
— Down 7-0 and fighting the first-half clock as well as the Eagles, Scott Hunter returned the kick following Tyrone’s first score 26 yards. Then Hunter picked up four crucial yards for a big first down on a fourth-and-three situation. Finally Hunter threw a partially-deflected pass that got through to Terry Kovac for the touchdown with just 32 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Joe Schreckengost booted the PAT kick to knot the score at 7-7.
— In the third quarter Gerry McCloskey intercepted a Tyrone pass and the Blue Devils pushed to the T-14, but were stopped.
— Tyrone speedster Jim Albright then dashed all hopes for a win by scooting 60 yards for a score that gave Tyrone the 13-7 victory.
— Fresh from a perfect 10-0 record during the 1953 season, Bellwood-Antis opened the 1954 campaign at Tyrone for the annual “Backyard Brawl” and like the 2004 game, this one wasn’t much of a contest. With B-A coach Elwood Petchel beginning his second straight unbeaten season at Bellwood, the Blue Devils defeated Tyrone 36-7 on Friday, September 10.
— Bellwood-Antis’ hard-charging line of Dick Butterbaugh and Max Kneidinger at the ends, Raymond Hesley and Jay Campbell at tackle, Don Greiner and Jack Watson at guard and Wayne Campbell at center, made their presence known on offense, opening up holes for Albert “Chub” Dillen who started his bid for a third straight Blair County scoring title on the Blue devils first play from scrimmage. Dillen skirted around right end, reversed his field and raced virtually untouched for a 48-yard touchdown.
— Following an exchange of punts, Dick Hummel picked a few yards on a line plunge, then Dillen rifled the ball out to Max Kneidinger, who completed the short two-play, 44-yard drive by racing to the end zone for a score.
— Still in the first quarter, Ray Rossi took a handoff from Dillen and scampered 39 yards to the T-24. Charlie McClellan picked up six yards before Dillen plowed up the middle for to move the sticks for a first down. Dillen followed that up with the 14-yard TD and an 18-0 lead at the end of one period of play.
— Tyrone tried to get in the act, moving the ball to the BA-20 before losing the ball on downs.
— Bellwood-Antis marched the ball downfield for four first downs on the ground, then went to the air with Dillen hitting Fred Maurer for a 30-yard TD pass.
— Following a punt to the BA-35, Dillen took off on the first play from scrimmage, smashing off right tackle and scooting 65 yards for his third score.
— Tyrone, with new coach John Chuckran, scored their lone TD in the fourth quarter. Using their Four-H Club (Richard Hambright, Bill Hunter, Andy Holloway and Ron Hampton) of running backs, the Golden Eagles drove 62 yards with Hampton taking a handoff from Hunter for the score. Nick Kobak kicked the PAT. This was the first Tyrone score against Bellwood-Antis in 15 quarters, going back to the 1951 contest.
— Tyrone drove to the BA-18, but the Blue Devils took over at that point and drove for their final score. Dillen pounded the line for eight yards and then connected with Hummel on a 25-yard pass play. After a five-yard penalty set B-A back, Dillen, behind excellent blocking from the right side of the line, scampered 41 yards for his fourth TD of the game.