Tobias, Penns Valley light it up through the air; tops Bald Eagle

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 7, 2019

By Kenny Varner

SPRING MILLS – It wasn’t quite the night the Bald Eagle football team was hoping for against a very tough Penns Valley team Friday night.

The losses came not only on the scoreboard but in its starting line up as two of the Eagles toughest weapons were lost to injury.

Quarterback Jaden Jones and All-Purpose running back and special teams standout Gage McClenahan both were on the sidelines before the first quarter even ended.

Later in the contest, the Eagles lost two more of its starters and had to play some younger players in the later quarters.

“We were in the same situation last year, we lost our two big dogs. We understood the way to play and get back. I think we did a nice job coming out of the second half and we fought, getting it to 28-7,” said Bald Eagle Area Coach Jesse Nagle. “When you are playing a good team and you’re playing with your fourth safety it’s going to break sooner or later. Sometimes you take one on the chin. We have to get guys healthy.”

Penns Valley has its passing game going strong throughout en route to the 42-7 victory.

Leading the passing attack was Rams quarterback Aaron Tobias.

Tobias was a stable force throughout passing for 25-for-31 for 246 and six touchdown passes, three to running back Logan Snyder and two to Stephen Ripka. Rounding out the scoring on a Tobias pass play was Zach Braught .

The Bald Eagles’ lone score came in the third on a Kade Bittinger 1-yard run.

Penns Valley opened strong on offense.

After holding the Eagles of a fourth down on the Rams’ own 26, Tobias and company went on its first scoring drive of the evening.

The Rams went on a 9-play 74-yard drive that culminated in an 8-yard touchdown toss from Tobias to Stephen Ripka. With a Gage Ripka PAT, Penns Valley led 7-0 with 4:17 in the first.

That would be the lone score of the quarter.

However, the Rams’ started to sizzle in the second, posting 21 points, all of which came through the air.

Just minutes into the second quarter, Tobias hooked up with Snyder on an 11-yard TD reception.

With another successful extra point Penns Valley started to extend its lead.

Defensively, the Rams were just as solid in the first half as they held the Eagles in check.

Bald Eagle was held to just 27-first half yards while the Rams had 162 yards through the air and 69 on the ground.

After forcing a punt midway through the second, Penns Valley got the ball again, this time on its own 11.

But the Bald Eagle defense held, getting the ball back to the Eagles.

However, disaster struck as back-up quarterback Bittinger was hit going back to pass and his pass went into the diving hands of Aidan Brinker, giving his team a first down on the Eagles’ 28.

Three plays later, Tobias finds a wide open Zach Braught for the second touchdown of the quarter.

The touchdown went for 11-yards and Penns Valley extended its lead a little more at 21-0 with 6:19 until the intermission.

But the Rams weren’t quite done yet, getting the ball on their own 40 with time running out in the second.

This time the drive took just seven plays and it would be Tobias again with a touchdown pass to Snyder with 2:43 left.

Penns Valley went into the intermission leading 28-0 over the undefeated Eagles.

Playing with heart, the Eagles came out in the second half and marched down the field on its opening drive.

With the help of some Penns Valley penalties, the Eagles went on a 12-play drive culminating with a Bittinger 1-yard run, cutting things to 28-7.

That would be all the scoring the third quarter would see as the team’s went into the final stanza in a 21-point separation.

But the night belonged to Penns Valley and Tobias as he finished any discussion about a potential Bald Eagle comeback with two TD throws. He found Stephen Ripka and Snyder en route to the 42-7 victory.

Both teams now are 2-1 on the year.

Penns Valley 42, Bald Eagle Area 7

BEA 0 0 7 0 – 7

PV 7 21 0 14 -42

Scoring

First Quarter

PV – Aaron Tobias 8-yard TD pass to Stephen Ripka (Gage Ripka kick), 4:17.

Second Quarter

PV – Tobias 11-yard TD pass to Logan Snyder (Ripka kick), 11:15.

PV – Tobias 11-yard pass to Zach Braught (Ripka kick), 6:19.

PV – Tobias 15-yard pass to Snyder (Ripka kick), 2:43.

Third Quarter

BEA – Kaden Bittinger 1-yard run (Carter Stere kick), 7:51.

Fourth Quarter

PV – Tobias 50-yard pass to Stephen Ripka (Gage Ripka kick), 10:51.

PV – Tobias 22-yard pass to Snyder (Ripka kick), 7:45.

Team statists BEA PV

First downs 12 16

Rushes-Yards 35-101 20-84

Passing -yards 32 246

C-A-I 4-15-3 25-31-0

Fumbles 3-1 0-0

Penalties -yards 4-41 8-77

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing: BEA – Jaden Jones 3-(-19), Tommy Snyder 12-33, Kaden Bittinger 7-46, Hayden Vaughn 3-(-1), Max Yetsko (-17), Gavin Eckley 5-38, Tyler Braught 2-(-2) Zach Wible 2-17. PV – Logan Snyder 1-3, Seth Baney 6-22, Aaron Tobias 4-(-6), Colten Winkleblech 4-46, Tanner Ilgen 1-9, Dylan Holman 2-2, Ian Duffield 1-0, Aidan Brinker 1-8,

Passing: BEA – Jaden Jones 1-3 17, Bittinger 0-2-0-1, Yetsko 3-10-15-2. PV – Tobias 25-31-246-0.

Receiving: BEA – Gage McClenahan 1-17, Bittinger 1-4, Nathan Hoover 1-8, Wible 1-3. PV – Snyder 8-91, Gage Ripka 6-41, Stephen Ripka 4-70, Seth Baney 1-1, Colten Winkleblech 2-9, Austin Fisher 2-18, Zach Braught 2-16.

Interceptions: BEA- None. PV – Aidan Brinker (2nd quarter), 6:53

Logan Snyder (4th quarter), 10:58

Wyatt Shawver (4th quarter), 9:26