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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.
"(Huntingdon's) an outstanding football team; they're going to win a lot of games. So, it makes me happy for sure for us to be able to compete with them," said Bald Eagle Area head coach Jesse Nagle. "That was a great football game. They made some plays, we made some plays. Defensively, I think we made more plays than they did, and that was the difference."
It was a case of the Eagles constantly being ready to respond offensively, and the defense overcoming a slow start 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. And with 90 passing yards, the team finished with 363 total to go with five touchdowns and two turnovers.
"It starts up front," said Nagle when discussing the team's offensive success. "The very first play of the game, Sam made a nice cut, but realistically, he didn't get touched the whole 50-yard run. I think the offensive line, tight ends, just the blocking was outstanding."
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 struggled early but held 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.
"I think the biggest thing is we're playing a lot of young guys in some spots and the speed of the game, especially when you've got two really talented running backs and a talented runner at quarterback, they just had to kind of get used to that," said Nagle on the defensive adjustment. "They got used to the speed and better as the game went on. Only giving up one touchdown in the second half was critical."
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.
"It's one game at a time," said Nagle on his thoughts moving forward. "After Huntingdon, I told the kids to enjoy it, then it's Penn Cambria (Monday). They're an outstanding football team, a state-ranked opponent coming to our place."
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.
Statistically, it wasn't a matter of the Red Raiders struggling on either side of the ball. Their defense maintained their lead for three quarters, and their offense totaled 277 yards - 161 on the ground. But offensively, their struggles came from inside Tyrone's 20, where they weren't able to capitalize on three red zone opportunities.
"You need to put points on the board in those instances, and we failed to do so," said Bellefonte football head coach Tony Confer on the team's red zone issues. "Statistically, I believe we dominated the game but giving up the opening kickoff and having a fumbled snap on a field goal attempt that would have put us up by four hurt us tonight."
Sophomore Alten Howell played a solid game at quarterback, completing seven of his 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while also turning ten carries into 51 yards. His 70-yard touchdown pass to fellow sophomore Parker Jodon marked Bellefonte's only score, and he also connected with Ashten Howell five times for 39 yards.
Howell added 25 rushing yards to his 39 on the receiving end. And sophomore running back Bentlee Hall led the team rushing wise with 75 yards on 13 attempts, averaging just under six yards per tote and busting off a 25-yard rush at one point.
"Our defense played lights out all night. Our kids played hard the entire night and brought a level of physicality that we did not see in our scrimmage," said Confer. "This group is resilient. They will bounce back and show up for work on Monday."
The Red Raiders return to action next Friday, this time at home against Forest Hills. Last season, the Rangers got the better of Bellefonte at their home stadium, winning 35-0.