It all came down to one possession and one play on Friday night in Week 9. Bald Eagle Area held a six-point lead and Central was 27 yards from the endzone with one last chance to rally.

The Eagles had played well all game, but all it takes is one play to change a game and that’s what Central did.

With no time on the scoreboard remaining, Central quarterback Jesse Muthler found Bentley Dickson for a 27-yard pass and gave Central a thrilling victory as the extra point made it a 26-25 Central win.

Bald Eagle Area had a thrilling fourth quarter to take the lead with 1:25 to go. Carter Schenk scored with 10:41 to play for Central to open the fourth quarter and gave Central a 19-11 lead.

Just 20 seconds later Jackson Millward reeled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Kollin Cunningham to cut the lead to 19-17.

With 1:25 to play, a Bald Eagle Area drive culminated with a 2-yard touchdown run by Gradyn Fisher for 25-19 lead after Fish converted the two-point conversion with a run.

But Central wouldn’t be denied and drove down with less than 1:25 to score and win the game as Bald Eagle Area’s defense wasn’t able to get a key stop when needed late on that possession.

Bald Eagle Areaout-gained Central, 304-255, as 153 of those yards were in the air and 151 on the ground. Grady Fisher nearly had 100 rushing yards as he ended with 14 carries for 94 yarsd and Nick McCullney had nine carries for 29. Cunningham had 88 passing yards on 2 for 2 passing and Fisher went 4 for 7 for 39 and a score.

Central was led by Jesse Muthler’s 205 passing yards on 15 for 29 passing.

Central took an early 7-0 lead with 6:59 to play in the game when Carter Schenk scored from 5 yards out. Three minutes later, however, Fisher broke a 39-yard run to tie the game at 7-all.

Bald Eagle Area would go into the half up 10-7 after Jackson Millward kicked a 22-yard field goal. Central would go ahead 13-10 in the third quarter when Brooks Decker caught a 16-yard pass from Muthler with 10:01 to play.

Central 26, Bald Eagle Area 25

Bald Eagle Area 7 3 0 15–25

Central 7 0 6 13–26

First quarter

C–Schenk 5 run (Marks kick), 6:59.

BEA–Fisher 39 run (Millward kick), 3:42.

Second quarter

BEA–Millward 22 field goal, 10:31.

Third quarter

C–Decker 16 pass from Muthler (run failed), 10:01.

Fourth quarter

C–Schenk 1 run (pass failed), 10:41.

BEA–Millward 60 pass from Cunningham (Millward kick), 10:21.

BEA–Fisher 2 run (Fisher run), 1:25.

C–Dickson 27 pass from Muthler (Marks kick), 0:00.

TEAM STATISTICS BEA C

First downs 12 15

Rushes-yards 30-151 28-9

Yards passing 153 246

C-A-I 8-11-1 18-33-1

Total yards 304 255

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Penalties-yards 5-56 3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Bald Eagle Area, Gradyn Fisher 14-94, Nick McCulley 9-29, Nino Danneker 5-13, Kollin Cunningham 1-12, Sam Clark 1-3. Central, Colton Harbaugh 8-12, Semaj Musei 7-8, Carter Schenk 9-0, Jesse Muthler 4-(minus-11).

PASSING– Bald Eagle Area, Fisher 4-7-0 39 TD, Kollin Cunningham 2-2-0 88, Jackson Millward 2-2-0 26. Central, Jesse Muthler 15-29-0 205 TD, Carter Schenk 3-4-0 41.

RECEIVING– Bald Eagle Area, Jackson Millward 3-96, Kaleb Irion 1-22, Luke Hosband 1-17, Sam Clark 1-7, Nick McCulley 1-7, Gradyn Fisher 1-4. Central, Bentley Dickson 5-79, JJ Moushlian 3-46, Jesse Muthler 3-41, Carter Schenk 2-21, Kaden Horn 2-21, Colton Harbaugh 2-10, Brooks Decker 1-16, Troy Marks 1-12.