The lights were bright, the stands were packed, and the energy at Bellwood-Antis High School was electric as the Blue Devils hosted Bishop Guilfoyle Academy for their 4th Annual Sideline Cancer Homecoming Game — a night that was truly bigger than football.

What began in 2022 as a single act of community giving has now become one of the most powerful traditions in Bellwood-Antis history. In just four years, the school has donated over $15,000 through Sideline Cancer events, with each year growing in both excitement and impact.

This year’s game was one for the record books — not only on the field, but off it.

A Night of Competition and Compassion

The evening kicked off with Bellwood’s traditional homecoming parade before fans packed the stands for kickoff against rival Bishop Guilfoyle. Both teams came into the matchup with strong seasons and even stronger motivation, ready to battle it out under the Friday night lights.

Bishop Guilfoyle entered with a (5-1) record and a three-game winning streak in Sideline Cancer Games, while Bellwood-Antis — coming off key wins over Tyrone and Central — was determined to defend their home field and their community cause.

The game itself was a thriller. Bellwood’s defense shined, keeping BG’s high-powered offense in check for most of the night, while Blue Devil standout Alex McCartney found the end zone twice to tie the score in the second half. In the final minutes, BG senior Jacob Kissell connected for a late touchdown, securing a 21–14 win and extending Bishop Guilfoyle’s Sideline Cancer streak to four straight victories.

After the game, Kissell and the Marauders celebrated by hoisting the Sideline Cancer trophy — a tradition this senior class began back in 2022. Over the years, BG has now helped donate more than $20,000 to 10 cancer patients, showing that their victories go far beyond the scoreboard.

Bellwood-Antis Sets New Record: $10,000 Donated

While the competition was fierce on the field, the biggest win of the night came from the Bellwood-Antis community. Through incredible teamwork, generosity, and heart, Bellwood raised a record-breaking $10,000 for three local cancer warriors:

• Ethan Zook, Bellwood Elementary Student
• Mark Miner, Bellwood Maintenance Staff Member
• Tina Brubaker, Bellwood Community Member

The Homecoming Court — Lily Gerwert, Alyssa Briggs, Marissa Cacciotti, Lindsay Campbell, Chloe Stoltzfus, and Lily McNeils — led the charge, selling over 1,200 t-shirts, accounting for more than $6,000 of the total donation. Add in basket raffles, community contributions, and Sideline Cancer gear sales, and Bellwood’s Homecoming Game became the 7th school ever to hit the $10,000 mark through the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program — and the first football program to do so!

Together, Bellwood-Antis and Bishop Guilfoyle’s efforts combined for nearly $12,000 raised, making this matchup the third-largest philanthropic total in Sideline Cancer event history.

A Community That Continues to Give

For event coordinator Ali Stinson, this game represents the best of what small-town spirit can achieve:

“Our first Sideline Cancer event was held in 2022 and has grown every year since it began,” she shared. “In total, together we’ve raised $29,781 for people right here in our community battling cancer. I simply can’t put into words how grateful I am to work and live in a district that always rises to help others. Your generosity is inspiring — our kids are beyond blessed to be surrounded by people like you.”

From the basket donors and boosters to the parents, students, and volunteers who made it all happen — every effort mattered. Local businesses like Cosmic Charlie’s Coffee House, Martin Oil, Carmosinos, Sheetz, and Main Street Mercantile stepped up to support the cause, while families worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring everything together.

Bellwood’s Sideline Cancer tradition has become a shining example of what happens when a community unites around a mission of hope, faith, and compassion.

Together We Can Sideline Cancer

Sideline Cancer would like to thank both Bellwood-Antis High School and Bishop Guilfoyle Academy for their continued leadership and heart. What started as a single event has grown into a regional movement that changes lives — one game, one patient, one act of kindness at a time.

Together, We Can Sideline Cancer.

If your school or organization would like to host a Sideline Cancer event, become a sponsor, or make a donation to support patients in your community, please contact Jordan Griffith at [email protected].

Follow @sideline.cancer on Instagram to see highlight videos, photos, and more inspiring moments from the Bellwood-Antis vs. Bishop Guilfoyle game.