After suffering a close loss in Week 7, Bald Eagle Area football got back on track in a tune-up matchup over winless Westmont Hilltop, defeating the Hilltoppers, 28-0. That victory kept its District 6 Class AA playoff hopes in good standing, which it’ll look to bolster through another long road trip this week.

On Friday, the Eagles (4-4) will travel to face Central (2-6), where they’ll look to win two straight for the second time this season, as well as their fourth in five games. The game is set for 7 p.m.

The Dragons have had their struggles, at one point dropping four in a row by a combined score of 156-32. But they’ve made progress in recent weeks, and Bald Eagle isn’t underestimating anybody. They’re a storied program in the midst of a rebuild, having gone 38-5 from 2021 to 2023.

“They’re Central; they’re a great program, so they’re going to be a tough out,” said Bald Eagle Area football head coach Jesse Nagle on the Dragons. “Going up there, playing at Central, it’s always tough.”

After a tough start to the season that featured six picks in his first four starts, sophomore quarterback Jesse Muthler has begun to find his footing, passing for over 185 yards on decent efficiency in his last two games.

Three of his receivers – JJ Moushlian, Bentley Dickson and Carter Schenk – have over 20 receptions and 290 receiving yards this season, with Schenk also leading the team in rushing. Schenk and Semaj Musel each average over four yards per carry and surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game. And Schenk’s found the end zone as a runner, receiver and passer, with 11 total TDs on the season.

The team itself is coming off its best two games, earning its second win against Penns Valley before going toe-to-toe with Central Cambria (3-5) in Week 8. It certainly isn’t the toughest opponent the Eagles have faced this season, but that doesn’t make the matchup a guaranteed victory.

“Our kids have got to be focused and ready and put the time and preparation in to be ready to play against them,” said Nagle. “They’re going to bring six guys almost every play defensively and offensively, they’re going to give us some tricky plays and stuff like that to confuse you. So, we’ve got to be prepared.”

For Bald Eagle Area, Grady Fisher is coming off his best performance as a passer, where he completed 67 percent of his passes for 125 yards and two scores. Junior receiver Luke Hosband is looking to build on his second 100-yard receiving performance in three weeks, and Fisher and Nick McCulley can be expected to fore-front the rushing attack, having just combined for 130 yards on 27 attempts.

Defensively, it’s coming off its second shutout of the season and fourth straight game where it allowed 14 points or less. It’s allowed over 20 points just twice this season and will look to keep that number constant on Friday.