Tyrone (3-2) at Bald Eagle Area (4-1)

Time: 7 p.m.

Coaches: T - Steve Guthoff, first season; B - Jack Tobias, fifth season

Last meeting: Tyrone 41, Bald Eagle Area 0, last season

Key players: T – James Oliver, RB; B – Dakota Bartley, RB

The skinny: Last week, Bald Eagle Area was blanked by a stout and stingy Central defense. The Eagles’ offense had begun the season well, averaging almost 30 points in their first four games – all wins. But, against the Scarlet Dragons they could only muster three first downs the entire night.

“We need to be more physical,” said Eagles’ head coach Jack Tobias. “That was the problem last week. I think Central came out and were more physical than any team we faced this season.”

For some, a shutout loss could scuttle confidence and devastate a season, but Tobias said he wouldn’t let his team get down because of one loss. “We’ve got to keep things in perspective,” he said. “It’s a 10-game season. We set goals in the beginning of the season and those things are still in play.”

Tobias wouldn’t go into specifics about the goals his team set, but for this week anyway one goal is clear – find a way to corral Tyrone running back James Oliver. Tyrone has scored 179 points during their current three-game winning streak and the fleet-footed Oliver is a huge reason for that success, making him a target for the entire Eagles’ defense.

“Getting up front and controlling the line of scrimmage is the key, forcing him to go side to side,” said Tobias. “Being four, five, six guys to the ball at a time so when that cut back comes someone’s there. It’s tough to get him down because he’ll hit you with a juke and then he’s gone.”

Oliver rushed for 435 yards and eight touchdowns in wins over Huntingdon and Philipsburg-Osceola and was “held” to 94 yards and two scores last week in a 48-10 win against Bellefonte.

“It’s a matter of staying disciplined and not taking penalties,” said Tobias. “When you do that stuff against a good team its tough to overcome that.”

BEA’s defense played well coming into the Central game, giving up a little over 17 points per game and forcing 11 turnovers.