Radnor’s Scott Belveal is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The senior running back/linebacker gained 860 rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 114 carries this fall for Radnor (4-2). In the Raiders’ final game of the season, a 12-7 win against Ridley, Belveal ran for 227 yards on 27 carries. Off the gridiron, Belveal plays baseball for Radnor, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Young Republicans Club and Future Business Leaders of America.
Q: What is your most vivid memory of the Ridley game?
A: My most vivid memory was watching our offensive line – Daetrel Jerome, Duncan McDermott, Jack Condran, Gavin Holz and Keaton Monaghan – open up holes like they did. It was extremely fun running behind them all year and they are equally responsible for all of our rushing yards.
Q: How did you see your role as a team leader this fall, on the field as a running back and linebacker, and off the field as a senior dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic challenges?
A: I knew coming into the season that my role as a leader would be extremely important, especially with the uncertainty of this year. At practice, I love to have fun and joke around, but if things start to get sloppy, I motivate my teammates to focus and put in the work. As captain, I would remind my teammates to focus on what we could control – effort and attitude – and to try to stay resilient and make the most out of the six-game season we were given.
Q: Tell us a little about your football training since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. What did you find to be the biggest challenge to your training during the first months of the pandemic, and how did you handle that?
A: With the spring 2020 baseball season cut short, I was able to focus on getting stronger and increasing my speed and agility months before football started. I worked out at OverAchieve Sports and Speed and met my teammates on the field for captains’ practices. Starting in July, the Radnor team met three times a week during the summer to lift, run and do drills. I was so impressed that my teammates were willing to put in the time and effort to prepare for the season, even though at the time we didn’t know if we’d be allowed to play football in the fall due to COVID-19.
Q: Who is your favorite football player and why?
A: My favorite football player is running back Christian McCaffrey. I have been a fan of his ever since he was at Stanford University, and once he got to the NFL I started to enjoy watching him even more. I admire his hard work and love of the sport.
Q: Who have been your biggest football mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each one?
A: My biggest football mentor has always been my father [Scott]. He was my first football coach in Pop Warner when I played for the Radnor Raiders. My youth teammates will also agree that Coach Belveal was the most disciplined coach they have ever played for. To this day my dad and I always analyze film after every game and he has taught me that, even on outstanding plays, there is room for improvement. [Radnor] Coach Tom Ryan is also a close friend and mentor. My teammates and I love playing for Coach Ryan and his energy and enthusiasm about the game is the best. He has supported me through good times and bad and I will always remember him as a key mentor of mine on and off the football field.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: Since we play on Friday nights, I only have two hours after school to prepare for the game. This is kind of silly, but pre-game I always watch an animated movie, like The Lion King or Finding Nemo, while eating a sandwich and drinking chocolate milk. I like to get to school early so that I can get taped and then zone out with my headphones and focus on football prior to kickoff.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 24 for Radnor football. Why did you pick this number?
A: Throughout Pop Warner and middle school, I wore No. 27 but when I arrived at Radnor High School, No. 27 was not available, so I chose No. 24.
Q: You plan to play football in college – would it be as a running back or a linebacker?
A: I have applied to colleges and am talking with the football coaches at various schools, but have not committed yet. My first choice would be to play running back, but I will play any position where I can help out my team the most.
Q: What is your favorite course at Radnor? What do you think you might want to major in at college? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite courses at Radnor are always my math classes. In college I plan to major in some field of engineering so that I can concentrate on STEM.
Fun facts – Scott Belveal
Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones.
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans.
Favorite athlete: Christian McCaffrey.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: First Day Out by Tee Grizzley.
Favorite team: San Francisco 49ers.
Favorite pre-game meal: Jersey Mike’s Sandwich.
Family members: Parents Scott and Carolyn, sisters Catherine (junior at University of Southern California) and Alex (freshman at Elon), and brother John (8th grader at Radnor Middle School).
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
