TIM WEIGHT FILE Bald Eagle Area's Grady Fisher (3) catches a pass during a football game against Penns Valley on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Spring Mills. Fisher compiled 199 yards of offense on Friday.

Last Friday was a particularly tough one for Express area football teams, as they finished the weekend 0-5 with two overtime losses, three single-score losses and two blowouts. That included a Bald Eagle Area team coming off its first win of the season, which fell at home to Tyrone, 21-14.

While they were able to climb their way back from an early 14-0 deficit, cutting Tyrone’s lead to one score in both the second and third, the Eagles (1-3) weren’t able to entirely close the gap before the clock hit triple zero. The Golden Eagles (3-1) remained at least one step ahead, opening the second half with a long touchdown drive and keeping BEA scoreless after its late third quarter touchdown.

Nonetheless, head coach Jesse Nagle was proud of the team’s effort following a rough start. It could’ve laid down after Tyrone housed an interception to go up 14-0, but it ended up battling until the final whistle.

“Early, we had a blown coverage that led to a big score, then came back and threw a pick six. They could have sat, laid down and took a beating, but I was really proud of them,” said Nagle. “We were right there to win or tie it numerous times.”

“The negatives were that we kept turning the ball over in critical situations. But the positives were, we made them turn it over as well. So, I think our defense is playing well,” he added.

Defensively, the Eagles were largely effective, holding Tyrone to three yards per carry and stifling its pass game outside of an early 80-yard touchdown pass. Despite that play, the Golden Eagles finished with just 212 offensive yards and turned the ball over thrice.

Similar to its opener against Huntingdon, Bald Eagle Area ultimately outgained Tyrone 239-212. With starting quarterback Kaleb Irion struggling early, Grady Fisher stepped in under center and led the charge back, compiling 199 yards of offense on 18 passes and 18 rushes.

“Grady Fisher gave us the spark we needed,” said Nagle when discussing the offense.

Though most effective as a runner, where he finished with 118 rushing yards and averaged over six yards per carry, Fisher fared well in his first stint under center.

He was also able to complete over 55-percent of his passes, concluding with ten completions, 81 passing yards and two touchdowns. With Fisher not running routes, Jackson Millward (3 receptions, 40 yards) and James Cowan (5 receptions, 38 yards) were most effective, each catching a touchdown.

On the defensive end, Millward secured both BEA interceptions, making an impact at every level with two made point-afters as well. Gage Gardner forced a fumble and compiled six tackles (five solo). Colten McCaslin had a sack, and Kollin Cunningham recovered Gage Gardner’s forced fumble. And Drew Nagle led the team in tackles with seven (three solo).

While the loss stings, the fight the team displayed has Nagle optimistic moving forward. Next up, the Eagles will look to bounce back against Philipsburg-Osceola at home on Friday.

“We’ve got to continue to get better all-around as coaches, as players, and hopefully put it together this coming week,” said Nagle. “They kept fighting, kept believing. It’s just one of those things. You can’t give a good team 14 points and expect to come back.”

“(Philipsburg-Osceola) is a good football team, has some really nice players, a senior-laden team and definitely well coached. We’ve got to bring our A game to be in a game with them,” he added on the team’s next opponent.

Tyrone 21, BEA 14

TYR 14 0 7 0 – 21

BEA 0 7 7 0 – 14

First quarter

TYR – 80-yard passing touchdown (PAT good), 7:00.

TYR – 44-yard interception return (PAT good), 4:00.

Second quarter

BEA – Grady Fisher 29-yard passing touchdown (Millward kick), 9:00.

Third quarter

TYR – One-yard rushing touchdown (PAT good), 10:00.

BEA – Fisher passing touchdown (Millward kick), 2:00.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Bald Eagle Area, Grady Fisher 18-118; Nick McCully 10-28; Kaleb Irion 2-8. Total 30-154.

PASSING: Bald Eagle Area, Fisher 10-18-1 81 yard, 2 TDs; Irion 1-7-3 4 yards.

RECEIVING: Jackson Millward 3-40, TD; James Cowan 5-38, TD; Luke Hosband 2-8; Isaac Johnson 1-(-1). Total 11-85, 2 TDs.