Turnovers hurt BEA in 26-0 loss

By rscaife
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Updated: September 20, 2014

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Turnovers proved costly Friday night in Bald Eagle Area’s contest against visiting Chestnut Ridge in area high school football at Alumni field.

Posting two interceptions, three lost fumbles and committed 40 yards of penalties proved to be a deadly tri-fecta for the Eagles offense as the Lions muscled their way to a 26-0 victory.

The Lions provided a grind it out style ground game, led by Matt Wiley. Wiley picked up a game-high 93-yards rushing in just 11 carries.

Quarterback Jason Jones led the running attack for the Bald Eagles by tallying 36 yards on the ground.

However, it would be the throwing of Jones that moved the ball down field at times for BEA, posting 68 yards through the air.

Chestnut Ridge led in the over yardage department by a margin of 218-148.

The Lions posted the first touchdown of the game in an odd way.

After driving downfield on a 40-yard run and a 17-yard run by Matt Wiley, the 11-play drive put the ball on the Eagles’ one.

As the ball was snapped to Chestnut Ridge quarterback Tyler Wiley the ball was mis-snapped and fell into the end zone. Wiley quickly recovered it, giving his team the six points. With the Phillip Dull PAT, the Lions were up 7-0.

Bald Eagle wasted little time with its first turnover, fumbling the ball on the second play of just their second drive.

With the ball at the Eagles 16, it didn’t take long for the Lions offense to punch its second touchdown of the game in.

Again, Tyler Wiley was the recipient and took a quarterback sneak in from three yards out.

However on the ensuing extra point, the Bald Eagle defense was able to partially block the kick, holding the Lions to just a 13-point lead with 59-ticks left in the opening quarter.

Despite being on the field for much of the first quarter, the Bald Eagle defense played tough in the second and third quarters.

Minutes later after a stalled drive by the Eagles’ offense the Chestnut Ridge special teams got into the act for the team’s third score.

Noah Osman picked up a BEA punt with 11:30 left in the second half and dodged defenders and turned on the jets in the final 40 yards to post an 80-yard punt retun.

Dull’s PAT sailed wide, giving the Lions a 19-0 lead.

Bald Eagle thwarted Chestnut Ridge drives in the second and third quarter, giving their fans something to cheer about.

Unfortunately, the Lions’ defense was also up for the challenge and took everything that the Bald Eagles could throw at them.

During a late drive during the first half by Bald Eagle, the Chestnut Ridge defense played the pass to perfection, leading to a drive ending interception by Cody Hillegass on his team’s own 34.

At the intermission, the momentum was all in the hands of the Lions.

Defensively, the Eagles shut down the Lions for most of the entire second half.

Drive after drive, turnover after turnover, the defense stood tall and made a statement that they weren’t going to give up any more touchdown’s in the game.

It looked as if the Eagles’ defense would entirely shut down the Lions offense but a late fourth quarter miscue put the ball deep in their own territory.

Much like he did in his earlier two touchdowns Wiley found a way to pick up a final score in the fourth quarter, banging and pushing his way in from 22-yards out, ending the scoring at 26-0.

With the win Chestnut Ridge improves to 3-1 while the Eagles fall to 1-3.