TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area celebrates a Luke Hosband (2) interception during a football game against Bellefonte on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Rogers Stadium.

Despite a resurgent midseason that saw it at one point win four of six, Bald Eagle Area football’s playoff chances took what seemed to be a fatal hit in Week 9.

A Week 7 loss to Clearfield made it where it no longer controlled its own destiny. And with an excruciating loss at Central and Bellwood-Antis improving to 5-4 heading into Week 10, nothing it did would allow it to surpass the Blue Devils for the eighth District 6 Class AA slot.

The stakes of its Week 10 matchup against Central Cambria were essentially downgraded into a consolation prize, a battle to see who could finish the season .500. However, just one day before the Senior Night affair, those stakes were adjusted.

Due to a lack of available players, it was announced on Monday that Mount Union (7-2) – who was previously seeded sixth – was forced to end its season early, an unfortunate situation but one that ultimately offered opportunity for the two teams competing at Alumni Stadium on Friday night.

Initially slated to be vacant, the eighth slot would be reopened on Thursday with the help of Bald Eagle Area superintendent Christopher Santini, who coaxed the District 6 committee to make a vote on the matter.

“We found out late yesterday, about 3 o’clock, that they were going to allow an eighth team in. I pretended like they weren’t at first, like they were only going to take seven,” laughed Bald Eagle Area head coach Jesse Nagle on Friday when recalling Thursday’s practice. “Of course, when I told them they’re taking eight, everybody was ready for the challenge.”

While the prospect of that occurring was there throughout the week, it was never a given, making the announcement exciting, albeit abrupt. Just 28 hours before Friday’s kickoff, the pressure surrounding the game took on a new level, as both teams would be battling to extend their seasons.

But despite that added pressure, the Eagles never let that faze them. They instead relished it, an aspect of their pre-game mentality that showed from the opening kick.

“I was ecstatic at first when I realized we actually had a chance. But then, we also had to focus because it was a big game,” said Bald Eagle senior Kaden Clark. “Even though we could have a good outcome, we still had to focus and put the time into the game before we could look forward.”

“No, not really,” said senior Grady Fisher when asked if there were additional nerves heading into the matchup. “We just knew what we had to do and that we had to dominate if we wanted it.”

And the Eagles did just that. Their urgency reflected the stakes well, as they battled like they were already in the playoffs vying for a quarterfinal win. But at the same time, they didn’t let that urgency allow them to press too much, keeping the mistakes to a minimum.

Their defense, as it has all season, took on an all-hands-on-deck approach, consistently introducing Central Cambria’s prolific rushing attack to swarms of Eagles in the backfield. Their front was dominant, and that opened things up for the rest of the unit.

“Football is won up front,” said Bald Eagle defensive tackle Gage Gardner. “You need good linemen that are going to pound people nonstop, the whole game and just try to dominate. And we have guys that have really bought into that ideology.”

Of the Red Devils’ 19 runs, six resulted in a loss of yards, three ended at the line of scrimmage and just two went for five yards or more. The Eagles went into the matchup with a goal to hold Ryan Chappell – who entered Friday averaging 140 rushing yards per game – to under 30 yards, a lofty goal but one they managed to complete as he rushed for just 22.

And with Central Cambria’s x-factor shut down, Bald Eagle controlled the narrative defensively. In response, the Red Devils passed it a season-high 20 times, three which resulted in interceptions as quarterback Mason Pittsinger consistently found himself under pressure.

Even as Bald Eagle’s lead grew to two scores by halftime and three by the midway point of the third quarter, that urgency remained. In fact, the Eagle defense was more imposing through the second half, allowing just one first down while forcing two turnovers, two three-and-outs and one four-and-out.

Overall, it forced the same number of turnovers (4) as allowed first downs (4), near-perfection in a nutshell. Two long passes from the Red Devils were essentially all that separated it from a complete shutdown.

“I think we just come together really well, anywhere from our defensive ends, our interior defensive linemen, all the way to our corners,” said Bald Eagle Area linebacker Kaden Clark on that success. “We know our play calls, and we can work together no matter what.”

The offense did slow down after a 15-point second quarter, picking up just two first downs through the second half, but it found other ways to help out its defense. For the second time this season, the Eagles finished a game without a turnover. And they dominated the field position battle.

On two punts, Grady Fisher pinned the Red Devils at their own one-yard line, with the special teams unit carefully fielding the ball to avoid a touchback. Of Central Cambria’s ten drives, five started behind its own 20, giving the Red Devils long fields to traverse against a unit that’s now produced three shutouts.

All in all, it was a great example of how to handle such a quick turnover in stakes. Bald Eagle could’ve buckled under the pressure, played too conservatively or made costly mistakes. But instead, it played with controlled urgency, making the right plays offensively and never relinquishing on defense.

The result? Bald Eagle Area returns to the District 6 Class AA tournament for the first time since 2023, and its senior class gets a chance to cap the season on a high note. It does face an uphill battle as the tourney’s bottom seed. But its hat is now in the ring, and anything can happen.