GAME THREE B-A Blue Devils: 29 Bald Eagle Area: 14 Friday, September 16, 2005 • Wingate, Pennsylvania
By Bob Miller | Daily Herald Sports Editor
— Bellwood-Antis controlled the game for literally the entire game at Wingate against Bald Eagle Area and yet was never ahead by more than 22 points in a 29-14 victory that was the Blue Devils second win in three tries in 2005.
— The Blue Devils were their own worst enemy. The only team that stopped Bellwood-Antis on this night was—Bellwood-Antis.
— The Blue Devils pounded out 475 totals yards, including 368 on the ground, led by a 278-yard effort by junior tailback Josh Kleinfelter. However, Bellwood-Antis fumbled the ball six times, losing four of them and threw two interceptions to allow Bald Eagle Area to stay in the game.
— “We got away with one here,” said B-A coach John Hayes. “We made a lot of mistakes, but a couple guys made some big plays. I can’t imagine being able to win a football game when you put the ball on the ground that many times and throwing those interceptions. We really tried to beat ourselves. Fortunately we made enough plays offensively to put the ball in the end zone a couple times.”
— Bald Eagle Area won the toss and took the kick to begin the ball game and the B-A defense forced the first of six straight punts by the Eagles. Angel Resto scampered 15 yards on the first play from scrimmage, but the Blue Devils’ defensive effort would push the BEA offense back again and again. BEA ended the first half with 21 rushes for 13 net yards and completed two of seven passes for 12 yards.
— On the other side of the ball, the only thing that prevented more than a 22-0 halftime advantage was the Blue Devils own mistakes.
— Kleinfelter burst 16 yards on the first series for B-A before Jon Davila went inside for seven, but fumbled and BEA recovered.
— Kleinfelter rambled 28 yards on the first call of the Blue Devils second series and then Davila slammed up the middle for 38 more. Kleinfelter scooted 28 yards two plays later for the TD. Evan Celmo kicked the PAT.
— On the next series, Kyle Drost connected with Dan Kovac for a gain of 40 yards, but the Blue Devils lost the ball again.
— One of the few B-A backs who was able to hold onto the ball, again Kleinfelter had his number called on the first play of a series and again the junior tailback responded, going 24 yards and followed a six-yard gain that moved the sticks for a first down by Devon Clapper, Kleinfelter went over the left side for a 16-yard score. Celmo’s extra point kick gave the Blue Devils a 14-0 margin.
— Shooting themselves in the foot, Bellwood-Antis lost the ball on the next two series, one on another fumble and once on a pass interception.
— Finally Chad Coho recovered a BEA fumble at the Eagles-5. On a fourth-and-goal at the five-yard line, Drost lofted a pass to Dan Kovac in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. On the extra point try, the snap from center was high, but Davila, picked up the ball and wisely skirted left end for the two-point conversion and a 22-0 B-A lead at halftime.
— Kleinfelter moved 21 yards in three plays to begin the third quarter after Clapper returned the second-half kick 22 yards. Bellwood-Antis fumbled the ball away again.
— Bald Eagle Area quarterback Camdin Crouse moved the Bald Eagles down the field for their first score of the game, completing four tosses for 97 yards, overcoming a holding penalty and a quarterback sack by B-A lineman Adam Martin. Crouse scored the TD on a one-yard sneak and then Angel Resto ran the PAT in behind a wall of BEA linemen, when the BEA center pitched the ball to Resto over to one side, catching the Blue Devils napping to cut the B-A lead to 22-8.
— Kovac intercepted a Crouse pass on the next BEA offensive series at the BEA-16. Kleinfelter carried twice for the TD, splitting the distance with two eight-yard carries, the second for the score. Celmo’s PAT upped the Bellwood-Antis lead to 29-8.
— The Blue Devils continued to move the ball, but errors and turnovers continued to plague Bellwood-Antis. Danny Campbell intercepted a Crouse pass and another BEA threat was bypassed when a Crouse to Gary Sowash pass was good for 74 yards, but Sowash fumbled the ball into the end zone at the end of the play, at the BA-1, giving Bellwood-Antis possession at their own 20.
— Celmo attempted a 40-yard field goal that was plenty long, but just wide left.
— “Our defense protected us when we made those mistakes,” said Hayes. “They were able to keep Bald Eagle out of the end zone for the most part and allow us to win the football game.”
— BEA did manage one more score. Crouse completed a pair of passes to get his team close and then rushed for the two-yard score. The PAT kick was low and Bellwood-Antis was able to run the clock out several series later. The Blue Devils did not punt the ball.
