(WTAJ) — A year on the sidelines didn’t stop Bellwood-Antis junior Alex McCartney from making a statement in his return to the field.

McCartney, a running back and outside linebacker for Bellwood, was named WTAJ’s Sportbeat Player of the Week for Week 1 after powering the Blue Devils to a 28-21 victory over Clearfield on Friday night.

He rushed for 116 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns, leading Bellwood-Antis in a hard-fought season opener.

The performance was even more significant given McCartney’s journey. He missed the entire previous season due to injury, and his Week 1 breakout marked both a personal triumph and a boost for the Blue Devils, helping them edge past a talented Clearfield team.

Alongside the Player of the Week honor, the WTAJ Sportbeat Play of the Week a

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