Local sports

Bellefonte, BEA look to overcome setbacks in Curtin Bowl

WINGATE - On Friday, the 73rd rendition of the Curtin Bowl is set to take place, as Bald Eagle (3-2) hosts rival Bellefonte (2-3) at Alumni Stadium. Each team is looking to get back on track following tough losses to Centre County opponents, adding importance to the already weighted matchup.

As it stands, the Eagles own the Curtin Bowl trophy, recapturing it in last year's matchup with a thrilling, 19-14 victory at Bellefonte's Rogers Stadium. The Red Raiders will be shooting to win their seventh in 11 seasons while Bald Eagle looks to defend its trophy in front of its home crowd.

For the Eagles, the rivalry matchup follows a rough conclusion to September. After starting 3-0 and defeating returning state semifinalist Penn Cambria in Week 2, two setbacks against Tyrone and Philipsburg-Osceola blemished the perfect start. Those losses place Bald Eagle one away from .500.

The biggest difference between its fiery start and back-to-back setbacks came on the offensive side of the ball. Through the first three games, the Eagles averaged nearly 34 points per outing, and that average has since dropped to 24 points per game, as they mustered up six points against the Golden Eagles and 14 against the Mounties.

In Week 5, senior quarterback Chase Cane weathered his toughest outing yet, tossing two interceptions to just three completions on 11 attempts. He did see success running the ball, turning 16 carries into 86 yards and two scores. But the offense as a whole failed to surpass 200 yards for a second straight game.

Offensive balance and rushing success have been hindered in the last two games. Through the first three games, the Eagles surpassed 700 rushing yards but have since managed just over 200. So, finding a way to re-establish those strengths will be key in bouncing back.

Cane heads into his sixth start having surpassed 350 yards passing and rushing, completing over 56 percent of his passes and averaging over seven yards per carry. Sam Clark leads the team with 410 rushing yards, and he and Xavier Nagle have each scored four times. And Luke Hosband leads the Eagles with 15 receptions for 243 yards, having scored thrice through five games.

For Bellefonte, the hope is to avoid back-to-back losses against Centre County teams. The Red Raiders are coming off a 26-19 defeat against previously winless Penns Valley (1-4), a loss which diminished momentum gained from a strong Week 3 win over Clearfield.

Turnovers proved costly in that Week 4 defeat, with two interceptions leading to Ram touchdowns that allowed Penns Valley to get out to a three-score lead. Bellefonte scored 13 unanswered points in response in the fourth quarter, but the Rams were able to run out the clock while surpassing 250 rushing yards.

Limiting those turnovers, establishing their offense earlier and limiting the run could help the Red Raiders get back on track on Friday. Each of their wins saw them secure early three-score leads, so they've proven capable of early offense.

Another key could be the continued success of their leading passer-receiver combo. Sophomores Alten Howell and Parker Jodon have connected on five touchdowns through the last three games, including a 92-yarder against the Rams that gave the team life in the fourth.

Howell has been efficient as a passer, completing 63 percent of his passes and logging 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and Jodon has turned 12 receptions into 354 yards and four touchdowns. Howell has also managed 264 rushing yards and three additional scores, leading a rushing attack that averages over 160 yards per game.

While every rivalry game has heightened stakes, this one holds added weight considering both teams' recent struggles and playoff hopes. Friday's Curtin Bowl is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.