Central Valley mercy rules Bald Eagle Area on way to state championship (Jodon Gallery)

Tagged under: Centre County Report, District 6, Gameday Hub, News

Billy Splain | November 30, 2019

Central Valley did not look rusty after a bye week as the Warriors rolled to a 45-0 victory over Bald Eagle Area to advance to the state finals. The game opened up with a Central Valley drive with the Warriors backed up in their own side of the field. Facing fourth and 15 to go, junior quarterback Ameer Dudley ran down the sideline to put the Warriors at the Bald Eagle 22 yard line. The Warriors did manage to get to the one yard line but they got stopped on fourth down.

The Central Valley defense responded when junior defensive end Justin Thompson sacked  Bald Eagle quarterback Jaden Jones in the endzone giving the Warriors the safety to go up 2-0. The ensuing Warriors’ drive resulted in a touchdown by Jaylen Guy as he forced his way into the endzone to grow Central Valley’s lead to 8-0 after the missed point after attempt.

On the kickoff, Bald Eagle mishandled the kick and it was recovered by sophomore Sean Fitzsimmons. The fumble recovery set up a pass from Dudley to senior wide receiver Jawon Hall for the touchdown to make the score 15-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Dudley threw an 8 yard touchdown pass to junior Myles Walker to extend the lead to 22-0. Two minutes later, the Warriors found the endzone again when senior wide receiver Michael Barbuto ran 18 yards into the endzone on a reverse play to make the score 28-0 after another missed point after attempt. On the next Bald Eagle drive, the oldest of the three Fitzsimmons brothers, senior linebacker Reed, intercepted Jones. Bald Eagle would hold the Warriors to a punt, but on their final play of the half Jones was intercepted yet again, this time by freshman Jayvin Thompson, to keep the lead at 28 for the Warriors.

Dudley scored his second touchdown of the night on the Warriors first drive of the second half when he pushed his way into the endzone to putting CV up 35-0 and start the running clock. After missing two point after attempts, senior kicker Ethan Ott got back into his groove and nailed a 29 yard field goal with ease to extend the lead to 38 after three quarters. The final blow to the Eagles would be when sophomore Matt Merritt caught an interception and raced 90 yards on the Bald Eagle side of the field into the endzone to make the final score 45-0.

Bald Eagle finishes 11-4 and 6-2 in their league and as the District 6 class AAA champions. Central Valley moves to 13-1 on the year and to their second state final appearance since the school’s creation in 2010.

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