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HUNTINGDON – After falling to Huntingdon in a 14-6, defensive slugfest last season, this year’s opener was much different for the Bald Eagle football team. In the first quarter alone, the teams doubled the scoring output of last year’s game with 42 points, setting the stage for an offensive thriller.
Things would ultimately slow down, but the Eagles still surpassed all 11 of their scoring outputs from last season. Sam Clark burst onto the scene as the team’s starting running back, turning 21 carries into 188 yards and two touchdowns and helping lead Bald Eagle to an impressive, 35-27 win.
It was a case of the Eagles constantly being ready to respond on Friday. After Huntingdon went up 14-7 midway through the first, BEA would match the Bearcats on three separate occasions before surpassing them late in the third. A Chase Cane passing touchdown and Andrew Penland PAT got them their second lead at 28-27, and it added cushion with a rushing touchdown in the fourth.
Rushing wise, Bald Eagle was imposing all night, averaging seven yards per carry and finishing with a total of 273 rushing yards. Alongside Clark, Xavier Nagle turned eight rushes into 36 yards and a touchdown.
James Cowan connected with Jack Kleisath for the team’s first passing touchdown of the season on a 17-yard throw in the second. Starting quarterback Chase Cane finished the day completing an efficient 8-of-9 for 73 yards and a touchdown and turned four carries into 29 yards.
Penland went 5-for-5 on PATS, which proved crucial late. And Luke Hosband led the team receiving wise, converting four receptions into 45 yards.
Defensively, the team had its struggles early but managed to hold Huntingdon to six points after the first quarter.
Hosband led the team with ten tackles and four pass deflections, and the Eagles notched two turnovers. Drew Nagle had eight tackles and a TFL, Avery Frank had five tackles and an INT, Xavier Nagle forced a fumble and Nick Woodward recovered a fumble.
All in all, the team opened the season on a high note. It’ll look to carry that momentum forward into a tough matchup against District 6 Class AAA power Penn Cambria next Friday at home.
TYRONE 14, BELLEFONTE 7
After erasing a two-score deficit in the last two minutes of last year’s matchup, Bellefonte saw the Golden Eagles turn the tables on it in the run back. Tyrone scored a touchdown with three minutes remaining, converting the ensuing two-point conversion to make it 14-7 and going on to hold onto that lead for the rest of the outing.
Bellefonte’s stats weren’t made available for the game.
The Red Raiders return to action next Friday, this at at home against Forest Hills. Last season, the Rangers got the better of Bellefonte at their home stadium, winning 35-0.