11/09/18 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Bald Eagle's Jaden Jones gets by Forest Hills' Anthony Zangaglia.

By JIM LANE

For the Express

ALTOONA — Bald Eagle Area is a District 6 football champion for the first time in 30 years.

The Eagles captured the D6-3A title on a cold, windy Friday night at Mansion Park, beating Forest Hills, 21-16.

Forest Hills won the championship last season.

“I’m really proud of our kids,” said BEA coach Jesse Nagle. “We haven’t won a district title in 30 years and haven’t been here (title game) in 23 years.

“When we took over (as coach) three years ago, it was our goal to be here by year three,” Nagle said. “Getting the win tonight was critical for our program.

“Honestly, I thought it (title) would come a little quicker,” he said. “But, we had to work in the offseason and get the kids to understand what it takes to be a district champion.”

Blake Roberts scored two of BEA’s three touchdowns — a 4-yarder in the third quarter and a 2-yarder in the fourth. He also intercepted a pass at the Eagles’ 25 on the final play of the game.

“He’s an outstanding football player,” Nagle said of Roberts. “They’re all good, but it helps having (Roberts) on our side. He’s a great player, has a heart of gold and he plays all 48 minutes.”

Forest Hills coach Don Bailey was impressed, too.

“He’s a workhorse, an outstanding player,” Bailey said. “We knew going in we had to either stop him or hold him down, but … he’s a good player, both offensively and defensively.

“They’ve got a good football team,” Bailey said of BEA. “They’re 9-2 and beat some good teams. Our kids played hard, but they played harder and deserved to win.”

Bailey felt his Rangers had chances, but came up short.

“We had opportunities, but we missed on the opportunities,” Bailey said. “We probably dropped too many passes tonight. We didn’t drop that many all season.”

FH quarterback Adam Cecere completed only 13 of 34 passes (many were dropped) and threw three interceptions. Cecere, who will play baseball at Wake Forest, accounted for both Ranger scores, though, a 2-yard run in the second quarter and a 5-yard pass to Forrest Wolfhope with only 30 seconds to play.

Forest Hills then recovered an onside kickoff, but Roberts’ interception snuffed out the Rangers’ last hope.

Bailey, who has guided the Forest Hills program for 45 years, gave his letter of retirement to the school board this week and told the team Tuesday.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Forest Hills 0 8 0 8 — 16

Bald Eagle Area 0 6 8 7 — 21

Second Quarter

BEA–Gardner 16 pass from Jones (kick failed), 11:55.

FH–Cecere 2 run (Delic pass from Cecere), 2:20.

Third Quarter

BEA–Roberts 4 run (Turner pass from Jones), 3:52.

Fourth Quarter

BEA–Roberts 21 run (Van Cise kick), 1:41.

FH–Wolfhope 5 pass from Cecere (Wolfhope pass from Cecere), 0:30.

TEAM STATISTICS FH BEA

First downs 15 16

Total yards 336 319

Rushes-yards 23-141 38-151

Yards passing 195 168

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 13-34-3 12-27-3

Punts-avg. 2-38 3-33

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 4-44 6-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Forest Hills, Cecere 14-110, Fyock 4-15, Zangaglia 4-12, Shope 1-4. BEA, Jones 10-76, Roberts 20-59, Turner 5-19, Snyder 1-6, TEAM 1-(-1), Bittinger 1-(-8).

PASSING–Forest Hills, Cecere 13-34-3-195. BEA, Jones 12-27-3-168.

RECEIVING–Forest Hills, Wolfhope 4-76, Fyock 4-65, Shope 2-15, Richardson 1-28, Zangaglia 1-6, Delic 1-5. BEA, Turner 4-22, Hoover 4-75, Roberts 1-26, Gardner 1-16, Kitchen 1-16, Jones 1-13.