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WINGATE -- Central lost the momentum in the third quarter of its Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference matchup with Bald Eagle Area at Alumni Stadium Friday night.
But the Scarlet Dragons, living up to the level of football that has enabled them to build an 8-1 record this season, regrouped to regain that momentum when it counted in the fourth quarter.
After Bald Eagle Area monopolized offensive possession in the third quarter en route to wiping out a 14-0 deficit and pulling back to tie the game, 14-14 early in the fourth period, Central put together a dominant 70-yard, 13-play game-winning drive that chewed up nearly eight minutes of the clock and culminated with senior Carter Schenk's 11-yard touchdown run with 3:06 remaining that gave the Dragons a hard-fought 21-14 victory.
"That's what we need to play all four quarters like,'' Central coach Jerry Albright said of the Dragons' cohesiveness on their game-winning drive. "We blocked well, we ran well, we pitched and caught well. Our offensive line opened up holes for our running game, and did a great job on pass protection, too.
"That's what we're capable of -- we just have to become more consistent with it.''
While Schenk ran for a pair of touchdowns and senior back Semaj Musei accounted for Central's other score on a short run, junior quarterback Jesse Muthler completed 12 of 18 passes for 159 yards, including three for 27 yards on the decisive drive. Muthler also picked up 20 rushing yards on two carries during the march.
"We were just able to run the ball down their throats,'' Muthler said of Central's performance during its big drive. "And when we couldn't do that, we were hitting the play-action (passes). It was one of our best drives of the season, and it got us this big win.''
Plays of the game: Central's big drive featured three third-down conversions on Muthler passes of eight yards to Schenk, 12 to junior wideout Bentley Dickson, and another 7-yarder to Dickson that gave the Dragons a first down at the BEA 21, from where an 11-yard Muthler run set the stage for Schenk's scoring burst up the middle.
Unsung heroes: Central's offensive line escorted the Dragons down the field superbly on their game-winning drive.
Most vital statistic: After BEA put together a 75-yard scoring drive that ate up nine minutes of the third quarter, featuring sophomore back Xavier Nagle carrying 12 times for 54 yards and catching a 5-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Mason Nagle to put the Eagles on the board, Central seized a stronghold on possession in the fourth quarter with the 13-play drive that took 7 minutes, 45 seconds.
Bald Eagle Area coach Jesse Nagle: "That (Central) is a great football team over there, but I thought that our kids battled hard. I'm proud of our guys. Both teams fought to the end tonight, but we just came up short at the end.''
Notable: BEA pulled into the 14-14 tie after the Eagles blocked a punt late in the third quarter and took possession at the Central 12, leading to senior Jack Kleisath's 2-yard touchdown run with 10:58 left in the game ... Dickson caught six passes for 123 yards for Central, including a pass from Muthler that covered 67 yards to the BEA 4 in the first quarter and took place after Muthler pulled a Houdini act by escaping a furious BEA rush and running across the field before finding Dickson open ... Parker Scott had an interception for Central, while Nick Woodward picked off a pass for BEA, which also got a fumble recovery from Xavier Johnson ... BEA recognized its 12 senior players before the game, which was televised by WJAC-TV.
Records: Central (8-1); Bald Eagle Area (4-5).
Next week: Central visits Penn Cambria, and Bald Eagle Area visits Forest Hills.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 14 0 0 7--21
Bald Eagle Area 0 0 7 7--14
First Quarter
C--Schenk 5 run (Scott pass from Musei), 3:53.
C--Musei 3 run (kick failed), 0:42.
Third Quarter
BEA--X. Nagle 5 pass from M. Nagle (Penland kick), 3:09.
Fourth Quarter
BEA--Kleisath 2 run (Penland kick), 10:58.
C--Schenk 10 run (Marks kick), 3:06.
TEAM STATISTICS C BEA
First downs 13 9
Total yards 265 166
Rushes-yards 32-106 27-68
Yards passing 159 108
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 12-18-1 12-17-1
Punts/avg. 2-33.5 2-34
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 3-20 3-23
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Central, Musei 20-46, Muthler 4-40, Schenk 7-19, Diehl 1-1. Bald Eagle Area, X. Nagle 16-64, Kleisath 7-7, M. Nagle 2-2, Cane 2-(-5).
PASSING--Central, Muthler 12-18-1-159. Bald Eagle Area, M. Nagle 11-16-0-76, Cane 1-5-1-32.
RECEIVING--Central, Dickson 6-123, Decker 3-21, Schenk 1-8, Loucks 1-4, Musei 1-3. Bald Eagle Area, Cane 5-26, J. Johnson 3-25, X. Johnson 2-17, M. Nagle 1-32, I. Johnson 1-8.