Though coined back in the 1970s by legendary Alabama football head coach Bear Bryant, that saying still holds merit half a century later.  

Defense doesn’t necessarily have to be the strong suit for a team to succeed, just ask 2019 LSU or the last Saints or Giants teams to win a Super Bowl. But it should at least be competent. Most championship teams have an adequate defense. And if it’s strong or elite, it can truly pay dividends. 

That’s something the Bald Eagle Area football program has started to see, especially since reaching the midway point of its 2025 campaign. Upon its offense figuring things out, its defensive success is no longer being overshadowed by offensive shortcomings, a trend that’s translated into three wins through its last four games.

That isn’t necessarily a surprise considering how many returners with starting experience the unit had, but it was still expected to take time for it to adjust to its longtime leader, LHU linebacker Wyatt Spackman, graduating. Instead, it hit the ground running, holding its first opponent – 5-1 Huntingdon – to 14 points on 81 yards.  

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Nino Danneker (51) tracks down Bellefonte's Alten Howell (5) for a sack during the Curtin Bowl rivalry football game at Rogers Stadium on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The Eagles won 19-14.

It’s rarely faltered since.  

Even with a 47-point anomaly against Class AAA power Penn Cambria (5-1) skewing their average a bit, the Eagles are giving up just over 18 points per game through six contests. That includes four games where they gave up 14 or less – three of those coming through their last four games – and one shutout at Penns Valley. And of the two that don’t meet that criteria, both were heavily affected by their own turnovers. 

When its offense scores more than 14 points, Bald Eagle Area is 3-1, a testament to the defense’s reliability. It’s to the point where 21 points has become a benchmark for success, a number the Eagles feel they can reliably protect. 

“I told them to just get to 21, that’s about what we got,” said Bald Eagle Area head coach Jesse Nagle following the team’s 19-14 win over Bellefonte on Friday. “If we can get to 21, we’re going to be good. That’s all we need to do.” 

Through its current two-game win streak, it was tasked with slowing down offenses that had been building up a lot of momentum. 

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Gage Gardner (58) gets a hand on Bellefonte's Kaven Smith-Kirk (11) in the backfield during the Curtin Bowl rivalry football game at Rogers Stadium on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The Eagles won 19-14.

Philipsburg-Osceola (4-2) entered their matchup having won three of its first four thanks in large part to an offense that was putting up over 30 points per game. And on the back of two rushing explosions from Kaven Smith-Kirk, the Red Raiders had surpassed 250 rushing yards in both Week 4 and 5 while averaging over seven yards per carry. 

But in both cases, the Eagle defense seemed almost overprepared. 

The Mountaineers’ versatile, balanced Wing-T offense was held at bay in both the run and pass, averaging under three yards per carry and completing under 40-percent of its throws while tossing two picks. Neither surpassed 100 yards, as the unit as a whole finished with 14 points and 142 yards of offense. 

“P-O is a very difficult team to defend because they do so much with so many different formations. They run a variation of the Wing-T, and it’s hard enough to get kids ready for the Wing-T and then they throw a bunch more things at you,” said Nagle following the team’s win over Philipsburg-Osceola.  “For them to learn a new offense and then, on top of that, be ready defensively for all their keys and reads was huge for our kids. It was a great team performance.” 

And against the Red Raiders, it’d completely shut down the run, holding Smith-Kirk to 24 yards on 13 attempts, attributing ten tackles for loss and two sacks and allowing just eight rushing yards total.  

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Blake Houck-Leitzell (23) wraps up Bellefonte's Caleb Bartley (9) during the Curtin Bowl rivalry football game at Rogers Stadium on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The Eagles won 19-14.

Its defensive line was dominant, constantly applying pressure and closing holes. And apart from a 74-yard passing touchdown and 26-yard touchdown drive, the Eagle defense never showed signs of struggle, ultimately allowing just 14 points, four first downs and 116 yards. 

“We’ve been working hard on this stuff. That wasn’t one of our strengths coming into this season; we struggled with it last season, and it was something that needed to be better,” said senior defensive tackle and captain Gage Gardner when discussing the team’s line play on Friday. “We stress our linemen every week to work hard, keep building and never stop or be content. And it showed tonight.” 

When asked about what’s been key to its defensive success as a whole, Gardner was quick to bring up chemistry. Despite the departure of Spackman, Bald Eagle Area came into 2025 with key returners at every level, most notably returning much of its defensive line and secondary, including both starting safeties.

“We’re just always on the same page, always dedicated to watching film and hearing each other’s perspectives,” said senior defensive tackle Gage Gardner when discussing the unit’s keys to success. “It’s just a lot of chemistry that’s built up over the years, and we’re finally working really well together.” 

New starters in defensive end Nino Danneker and linebacker Drew Nagle have immediately stepped in and delivered, with Danneker leading the Eagles in sacks (three) as a freshman and Nagle leading in tackles (46) as a sophomore. 

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Luke Hosband (2) reels in an interception during the Curtin Bowl rivalry football game at Rogers Stadium on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The Eagles won 19-14.

Gardner’s had a standout season on the interior, posting 29 tackles, two sacks and a team-high 14 tackles for loss. Kollin Cunningham and Grady Fisher have remained largely reliable at safety, combining for 53 tackles and four pass breakups. And Blake Houck-Leitzell gives BEA two potent pass rushers at end, also having two sacks – including one against the Red Raiders. 

For a team with big goals heading into its last four games, continued defensive success gives it a large leg up in accomplishing them. With a .500 record, two straight wins and the Centre County crown, Bald Eagle Area moves forward with plenty of momentum on its side. 

FOUND FOOTING 

While the Eagle defense is finally enjoying the fruits of its labor, it’s worth noting that that success wouldn’t be translating to wins without the steady emergence of its offense. Through two starts, Grady Fisher has shown noteworthy growth at quarterback, growth that proved crucial in the team overcoming its rival. 

Despite a more run-heavy mindset, both of the team’s touchdowns on Friday came thanks to Fisher’s arm.  

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area celebrates a two-point conversion run from Grady Fisher (3) during the Curtin Bowl rivalry football game at Rogers Stadium on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The Eagles won 19-14.

The senior ran a sub-minute drill to near perfection to close out the first half, going 5-of-7 for 34 yards and a touchdown before running in a two-point conversion to help give his team a 13-7 before halftime. And on Bald Eagle’s first drive out of the break, he completed what was probably his most impressive pass of the season so far, dotting up Luke Hosband 30 yards down the field for an eventual 57-yard score. 

It was an effort that illustrated the hard work the Eagles have put in to get Fisher prepared to throw. He’s still been effective as a runner, having averaged just under 90 rushing yards per outing through the last four games. But don’t be surprised if he continues to improve as a passer. 

“We’ve really turned it up at practice,” said Fisher following the team’s win over Bellefonte. “We keep putting in stuff that will work that hasn’t worked in the past, just circling the offense around me and our strengths.” 

“Everybody thought Grady could only run it, threw it a little bit more tonight,” said Nagle. “We struggled offensively in the first couple games, but the kids are starting to believe. They’re starting to understand what we area as a team and buying into what we’re trying to sell.” 

Coupled with the team putting a temporary seal on the turnover problem that had plagued it early, it’s been able to put together its two most well-rounded performances through its last two outings. The question is, can they keep carrying that forward?