The record for consecutive wins at Tyrone is 29, set from 1946-48 under the watchful eyes of Steve Jacobs and Max Cook, two of the all-time greatest coaches in school history.
To better the feat in the modern era of PIAA playoffs would be a gargantuan task because it almost requires a team to run the table in two consecutive seasons and win back-to-back state championships.
Instead, for judging excellence over time, it may be a bit fairer to look at the record in terms of consecutive regular season victories. That’s a record that’s doable, and it’s one the 2006 Golden Eagles would have a shot at breaking tomorrow night at Memorial Field in Philipsburg (7 p.m.) had not the Mounties dealt them a shocking defeat on the same turf two seasons ago.
On that night, Philipsburg-Osceola, 4-0 and energized by a record crowd, beat undefeated Tyrone 7-6 despite being outdone in every offensive category. For the 2004 Eagles, who assaulted the Tyrone record book like no team since 1999, it took almost an entire four quarters to score one touchdown, and their extra-point attempt was blocked to preserve the Mounties’ win.
You’d have to go back to Week 2 of the previous year to locate the Golden Eagles’ only other regular season loss since 2003. Their streak now stands at 17 games, but had it not been for the Week 5 upset in 2004, it would be 29, and a 50-year old record would be inviting company.
Coach John Franco remembers the loss two seasons ago well, but not because it put the brakes on another record on his already superlative resume. Instead, what he remembers best is the atmosphere, the crowd, the electricity and the competition.
It’s something he expects to see once more tomorrow when his Eagles, 4-0 and leading the Mountain Athletic Conference Nittany Division, square off against 3-1 P-O.
“This is why we play,” Franco said. “These are the fun games. You enjoy them because it’s a chance to test yourself. There’s going to be a ton of people and incredible excitement. You can’t beat it.”
But while the pomp surrounding the game is something that makes high school football in Pennsylvania special, it won’t mean a thing if the Eagles lay an egg the size of the one they dropped in 2004.
One thing Franco and his staff have tried to get across to their team this week is that it may not take a poor game this time around. Philipsburg-Osceola this season is good enough to win on talent alone.
“They’re a good team. They have as much talent as we do,” said Franco. “It’s a big challenge and this is a big game. It’s a chance for us to see how good we are.”
P-O has spent the last three weeks finding out just how good it can be and is currently riding a three-game winning streak. After losing 13-12 at Brookville in Week 1, the Mounties have defeated Bellefonte, Penns Valley and Bishop Guilfoyle, and they’ve done it much like they did in 2004 – with a balanced offense and opportunistic defense.
Behind senior quarterback A. J. Czap, the Mounties are averaging over 350 yards per game. Czap himself has thrown for 398 yards and run for 342 and he’s one of three different players who have posted 100-yard rushing games for the Mounties.
But what’s been even more impressive has been P-O’s defense. The Mounties are allowing just under 10 points per game while forcing 13 turnovers. Three of those turnovers were interceptions returned for touchdowns.
“Teams that get better have do be able to do that because your offense isn’t always going to be able to score for you,” said P-O coach Jeff Vroman.
The Mounties are allowing just over 230 yards per game, only 66 through the air.
“We’re easily going up against the best defense we’ve played this season, and when the season is over it may eventually say it’s the best one we play all season,” Franco said. “It will be quite a challenge.”
It’s the kind of challenge Tyrone’s offense has spent four weeks preparing for and come through better than may have been expected when the season began. The Eagles are averaging 339 yards and 28 points per game, and they’ve shown incredible depth along the line and at the skill positions.
The trio of Tyler Golden, Justin Schopp and Johnny Franco have done most of the damage, accounting for 76 percent of Tyrone’s offensive production. Franco has rushed for over 500 yards and scored seven touchdowns, Golden has passed for 444 yards and six scores, and Schopp has caught 11 passes for 268 yards.
Their burden was lightened last week when senior Tyler Gillmen returned to the lineup after an illness kept him out since the preseason. In his first game he gained over 130 yards in total offense and scored three times.
All of their work is made easier by an offensive line that, despite constant shifting and reworking, has dominated the line of scrimmage in every game.
Vroman said his focus hasn’t been on evaluating what and who Tyrone has offensively, so much as discovering what his team can do well against the Eagles.
“Too many teams approach it worrying about the other team,” he said. “They worry a little too much what to do against the other team’s personnel, and I don’t think that’s the right way to go.”
Vroman can afford to feel that way because his offensive unit produces enough matchup problems itself. Along with Czap, the Mounties feature 6-5 receiver J.D. Mason (10 catches, 257 yards) along with Colton Harris and Dimitri Sidorick, each of whom have run for over 100 yards at least once this season.
Vroman said that part of his offense’s success has been consistency within the program since he took over in 2002.
“The kids are much more familiar with the system now,” Vroman said. “Last year (when the Mounties went 3-7), we were just young. We knew there would be a gap in the program and it was a struggle.”
The struggle ended this season, and had it not been for a pair of game-breaking runs by Brookville in the opener, the Mounties would be 4-0 now.
However, P-O’s one-loss record most likely won’t do anything to diminish the atmosphere at Memorial Field tomorrow.
“I’m sure it’s going to be exciting,” Vroman said. “Especially after last year, we need some excitement around here.”
New Line, No Problem
Franco expected to rebuild half of his offensive line this season, but he probably didn’t envision the kind of shifting that has taken place as a result of injuries and illness through the first four weeks.
Still, he did expect it to be good behind seniors Tyler Hoover and James Updike. After last week’s 35-14 win over Bald Eagle Area, Tyrone was averaging 214 yards per game on the ground.
In assessing his line’s play, Franco first singled out Hoover and Updike, who man the left side at tackle and guard, respectively.
“Hoover is the foundation,” Franco said of the 6-4, 320-pounder. “James is the same and he’s played exceptionally well. (Center) Josh Wright is our coach on the field and makes all the line calls. Matt Murray has come on and done a great job as a sophomore and he gets better every day. Andy Ashcroft is a senior that had to overcome a lot of obstacles, but came through to win a starting job.”
Franco also credited Nick Wilson, Aaron DeLay and Brock Anders for working into the Eagles line rotation, as well as tight ends Donnie Conrad and Johnny Shaffer.
“The offensive line is the key to a football team,” said Franco. “We start working with them at our clinics in May so they understand just how important they are.”
Reese Becomes the Next in Line
Consider the quality defensive ends at Tyrone under Franco’s tutelage who have seemingly come out of nowhere to play dominant roles on the Eagles’ defense.
It started with Tim Dry in 1999 and continued with players like Brad Tuskovich and Josh Good.
Add senior Jason Reese to the list.
After spending most of his career as a special teams player, Reese has now stepped in to fill the void left by injured three-year starter Doug Morrow, and he currently leads the Nittany Division with five sacks.
“Our defensive system is designed to highlight someone who wants to pin their ears back and attack,” said Franco. “Jason has done that and become an integral part of our defense.”
MaxPreps
For anyone interested in checking out the latest in high school football statistics, from Pennsylvania and across the nation, take some time to check out MaxPreps.com, a relatively new website that compiles high school statistics from around the country.
High schools who choose to report their statistics have them compiled into neat and easily located categories. You can find specific teams through a general search, or by searching under state and conference categories.
There are also areas to compare players’ individual statistics as they compare to their state, conference and other players throughout the nation.
For the high school football fan who can’t get enough from the Saturday newspaper alone, it’s definitely worth the look.
