Bald Eagle Area dominates Huntingdon

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 10, 2018

By Kenny Varner

HUNTINGDON – It didn’t take long for the Bald Eagle Area football team to make a statement against Mountain League rival Huntingdon as the Eagles’ Gage McClenahan scores on their first play from scrimmage for the early lead.

Though the Huntingdon defense battled hard to try to keep themselves in the game, they couldn’t get the consistent offensive fire power it needed as the Eagles mixed it’s running game and passing game, en route to a 30-7 victory.

McClenahan led the rushing game finishing with 86 yards on the ground while backfield mate Blake Roberts picked up 75 on the night.

Huntingdon was led on the ground by quarterback Nick Troha as he finished with a hard fought 84 yards on the ground and 20 through the air. Teammates Roger Kocik and Andrew Finkle finishes with 52-and 49-yards, respectively.

However, it wasn’t enough offense for the Bearcats.

“We made too many mistakes against a good team and that’s the name of the game,” Huntingdon coach Michael Hudy said. “Obviously, they’re very good. We made mistakes and they capitalized on it. We had trouble establishing the run like we have all year.”

From the opening kick off, the Eagles tried to make a statement as McClanahan took the ball on the kick from his 20 and blazed his way down the field to the Bearcats’ 40.

The next play, McClenahan finished what he started it busting through the middle of the line and then past the secondary for the 49-yard TD run.

Bald Eagle went for two-points early and were successful, making it 8-0 at the 11:39 mark.

But the Bearcats would battle back to cut into the Eagle lead.

“This was a trap game. I dint think our kids stayed as focused as we wanted them to. Credit to Huntingdon, they played hard knowing that this was a like a playoff game for them. They definitely came out and smacked us in the mouth,” Bald Eagle coach Jesse Nagle said. “We always say we’re 40 strong and it doesn’t matter who’s in. We had a lot of subs in tonight because of sickness. It doesn’t matter if your number one man, two or number three we expect them to play and play the role their assigned and they did that. We were pleased to get out of here with the win.

After a 28-yard run by Troha, putting them deep in Bald Eagle territory, Roger Kocik muscled his way in from 20-yards out. With a successful PAT by Giovan Scaccia, the Bearcats were in striking distance at 8-7 with 2:21 left in the opening quarter.

With only 23 ticks left on the first quarter clock, Bald Eagle quarterback Jaden Jones went to the air and found a wide open Kaden Bittinger for their second touchdown.

Like the first score, the Eagles went for two and Jones called his own number and crashed the line, ending the first quarter scoring at 16-7.

In the second both had their defenses take over the momentum of the game.

The only score on defense was a Nick Turner strip of Kocik and then he sailed downfield untouched for the 55-yard touchdown.

Highlighting the Huntingdon defense were two interceptions, one by Scaccia in the second and one by Andrew Miller in the third.

Bald Eagle would take a 23-7 advantage into the intermission.

When play resumed in the third, again the defenses took control.

Bald Eagle scores one last time before the end of the contest when Blake Roberts broke loose for a 34-yard TD and kicker Peter Van Cise ended the scoring at 30.

Defensively, the Eagles forced two second half interceptions as Matt Reese and Bittinger both had clutch fourth quarter interceptions en route to the teams 7-0 record.