TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area receiver Luke Hosband (2) celebrates a touchdown during a football game against Bald Eagle Area on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Rogers Stadium. Hosband had 112 total yards and two touchdowns in Friday's 28-0 win at Westmont Hilltop.

JOHNSTOWN – After falling back below .500 in a hard-fought loss to Clearfield, Bald Eagle Area football got back on track on the road at Westmont Hilltop (0-8). The Eagles put up three scores in a flash, posted their second shutout of the season and put up a season-high in points and yards, defeating the Hilltoppers, 28-0, to improve to 4-4.

Even with senior lineman Gage Gardner out as a precaution on Friday, both lines prospered, helping the Eagles see success in both the run and pass offensively while keeping Westmont Hilltop from establishing much of a run game of its own. In a tune-up matchup ahead of its closing stretch, Bald Eagle worked in more passes to the tune of 175 yards and three touchdowns while adding 158 on the ground.

“We tried a lot of different things on offense and defense because we felt that this was the game to do it. Not that we’re looking for identity, but we are looking to see a spark offensively, and it’s huge right now finding that spark,” said BEA head coach Jesse Nagle when discussing the win. “We wanted to see if we could run spread more, so we did a little bit of that and had Grady (Fisher) pass more.”

In his fifth start under center, Fisher posted a career-high in completions (14), completion percentage (67-percent) passing yards (125), tossing two touchdowns and adding 47 yards and a touchdown on nine rushing attempts. There were ups and downs, as the senior also logged an interception, but Nagle was happy with what he saw from the pass game on Friday.

“There were some easy throws that he missed, but he also made some really tough throws,” said Nagle on Fisher.

Junior receiver Luke Hosband returned to his Week 6 form after the team went more run heavy against Clearfield in Week 7, posting his second 100-yard outing in three games with eight receptions, 102 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Millward added 57 yards and a touchdown on three catches, and Kollin Cunningham found Millward for a 50-yard touchdown on a trick play.

“Hosband is a really nice football player that is still so raw; I don’t think he understands his ability yet,” said Nagle. “So, having success like that is really good for his confidence and understanding of what he could become. He definitely is a game changer on the outside.”

With senior running back Nick McCully also having success on the ground, turning 18 attempts into 84 yards, the offense had a lot going for it as it rolled out to a season-high 353 yards and 28 points. 21 of those came in the first 18 minutes, with the Eagles making the most of their early drives.

Defensively, it remained just as potent as it’s been all season, even with a key player on the interior out. Outside of a 41-yard pass that featured multiple broken tackles, it held Westmont Hilltop at bay, evident based on the final score. It was able to mix more guys in as well, with 17 Eagles logging at least one tackle through the Week 8 affair.

In terms of aspects to build upon, Nagle felt it could’ve done a better job of building on its lead, with missed opportunities keeping its 21-0 lead stagnant for longer than they would’ve liked.

“I was very satisfied with how the kids started, but I thought we got complacent, turned the ball over and were a little bit careless,” said Nagle. “That’s one of the biggest things we need to continue to work on. But they played very hard off the get-go, and the defense played lights out again.”

Nonetheless, it was a nice win to have as the Eagles head into their final two bouts looking for two wins. Bellwood-Antis (4-4) defeated Chestnut Ridge on Friday, making their next two games critical as they look to scrape into the District 6 Class AA playoff bracket.

That two-game span begins with a long road trip to Central (2-6) next Friday. After that, they’ll finish off the regular season with a league cross-over game in Week 10.

Bald Eagle Area 28, Westmont Hilltop 0

BEA 14 7 0 7 – 28

WH 0 0 0 0 – 0

First quarter

BEA – Grady Fisher to Luke Hosband 25 pass (Jackson Millward kick), 10:33.

BEA – Fisher 1 run (Jackson Millward kick), 3:17.

Second quarter

BEA – Fisher to Hosband 9 pass (Millward kick), 6:46.

Fourth quarter

BEA – Kollin Cunningham to Millward 50 pass (Millward kick), 4:27.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Bald Eagle Area, Nick McCully 18-84; Grady Fisher 9-47, TD; Luke Hosband 1-10; Sam Clark 3-7; Kollin Cunningham 1-7; Xavier Nagle 2-3. TOTAL 34-158, TD.

PASSING – Bald Eagle Area, Grady Fisher 14-21-1 125 yards, 2 TDs; Kollin Cunningham 1-1-0 50 yards, TD. TOTAL 15-22-1 175 yards, 3 TDs.

RECEIVING – Luke Hosband 8-102, 2 TDs; Jackson Millward 3-57, TD; Blake Houck-Leitzell 1-10; Isaac Johnson 1-4; Kollin Cunningham 2-2.

Records: Bald Eagle Area 4-4 (4-4 Laurel Highlands); Westmont Hilltop 0-8 (0-8 Laurel Highlands).