Central Cambria Red Devils’ rushing attack shut down in loss to Bald Eagle Area
H.S. football extra
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WINGATE -- Quarterback Gradyn Fisher ran 24 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns Friday night at Alumni Stadium to propel Bald Eagle Area past Central Cambria, 21-0, and into the District 6 Class 2A playoffs as the No. 8 seed.
Play of the game: On second-and-goal at the Red Devil 1-yard line early in the second quarter, the Bald Eagles executed their version of the Philadelphia Eagles' tush push to shove Fisher into the end zone for the first score of the game and the only one required for the Bald Eagle Area shutout win.
Player of the game: Fisher provided 170 of the Eagles' 226 total yards. He gained 111 on the ground and another 59 through the air.
Unsung hero: The Bald Eagles' Jackson Millward picked off two Red Devil passes to stop Central Cambria drives, kicked two field goals (25 and 22 yards), passed for a two-point conversion and kicked an extra point.
Most vital statistic: Bald Eagle Area held the Red Devils to 18 yards rushing on 20 carries, including limiting Central Cambria lead back Ryan Chappell to just 17 yards on 11 carries
Bald Eagle Area coach Jesse Nagle: "I thought the defense played outstanding the whole way around. We got pressure in key situations. Then running the ball, I think that kid (Chappell) was averaging 140 yards or something like that, and I don't know if he had 20. I think that allowed us to play more in the back end. We disguised a lot of different coverages. It worked out in our favor, for sure.''
Central Cambria coach Wade Klezek: "They made it tough up front and kind of made us one dimensional. And when you make a team one dimensional in football, especially in the passing game, they can pin their ears back and try to get after it and pressure the quarterback. They did a good job of that.''
Notable: Bald Eagle Area intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble for four turnovers against a Central Cambria offense that struggled to mount a consistent attack all game.
Records: Bald Eagle Area (5-5); Central Cambria (4-6).
Next week: Bald Eagle Area will play at District 6 Class 2A No. 1 seed McCort-Carroll; Central Cambria's season is finished.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central Cambria 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Bald Eagle Area 0 15 3 3 -- 21
Second Quarter
BEA--Fisher 1 run (Cowan pass from MIllward), 10:19.
BEA--Fisher 19 run (Millward kick), 1:01.
Third Quarter
BEA--Millward 25 field goal, 5:52.
Fourth Quarter
BEA--Millward 22 field goal, 10:24.
TEAM STATISTICS CC BEA
First downs 3 11
Total yards 127 226
Rushes-yards 20-18 42-167
Yards passing 109 59
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-20-3 6-10-0
Punts-avg. 4-28.75 4-41.8
Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1
Penalties-yards 1-5 4-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Central Cambria, Chappell 11-17, Pittsinger 8-4, Stevens 1-(-3). Bald Eagle Area, Fisher 24-111, McCully 10-28, Cunningham 1-3, Danneker 1-1, Hosband 2-8, Clark 3-17, Team 1-(-1).
PASSING--Central Cambria, Pittsinger 7-18-2 101, Chappell1-1-0 8, Stevens 0-1-1 0. Bald Eagle Area, Fisher 6-10-0 59.
RECEIVING--Central Cambria, Dill 1-3, Stevens 3-61, Williams 1-8, Pittsinger 1-8, Makosy 1-25, Galli 1-4. Bald Eagle Area, McCully 1-3, Millward 2-27, Cowan 1-5, Hosband 1-23, Cunningham 1-1.