Roll on home, Raiders.
After the Bellefonte football team played its home games elsewhere all season, the high school has received approval for the Raiders to host the season’s final contest against rival Bald Eagle Area on Friday night in the newly-renovated Rogers Stadium.
The stadium passed code inspection at about 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to Bellefonte Area School District’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Superintendent Michelle Saylor wrote in an email that there will be no charge for admission to 7 p.m. Curtin Bowl game.
Bellefonte has been playing its home games at Lock Haven University and at Bald Eagle during the $7 million renovations to Rogers Stadium, and other falls sports also have not been able to use the facility. Phase one work initially was expected to be completed in September, but contractor delays in the spring and heavy rain throughout the summer put the project well behind schedule.
Finishing work remains for phase one but the new field and bleachers (consolidated on the east side of the stadium), scoreboard and lights are all set to go.
Phase two, which will begin in the spring, will include new field houses with a concession stand and restroom facilities.
Despite playing the season on the road, the Raiders head into Friday’s Curtin Bowl with a 7-2 record and the No. 2 spot in the District 6 4A standings. Bald Eagle stands at 7-1 and is the No. 1 team in District 6 3A
