The Tyrone junior varsity football team took to the road on Monday to open their season at Wingate against Bald Eagle Area.
The Golden Eagle Jayvees matched BEA in scores with two each, but the difference in a 16-14 loss to the other Eagles for Tyrone was a two-point conversion. Bald Eagle Area was able to successfully convert two-point a following both their touchdowns, while the Little Golden Eagles scored only one two-point conversion.
Shane Christine and Loy Bonsell led the Tyrone offense under coach Chuck Banas. Bonsell rushed for a team-best 78 yards on 16 carries, while Christine added 69 yards on 11 carries.
The Tyrone junior varsity is shackled by a numbers problem, with no true quarterback and very little practice time as a complete unit. The Jayvees give their all in each game, but with the varsity starting three sophomores and a ninth grader, numbers are down for those available to play on Monday nights.
Bald Eagle Area put together the drive that resulted in the tying touchdown and winning two-point conversion with just under four minutes to play in the fourth quarter to take the win in a ballgame that was close from wire to wire.
Christine scored on a 10-yards run for the Eagles’ only touchdown from scrimmage and Bonsell added a two-point conversion on a run. Tyrone scored their second six-pointer when Dave Miller returned a BEA punt 54 yards for a touchdown. Miller, who was late coming out for the team, had a great game returning kicks. Counting the TD, Miller had 135 yards in returns during his first junior varsity action.
Coach Banas emphasized that the Tyrone defense played an excellent game, despite being outweighed by a heavier Bald Eagle Area squad.
“We were extremely pleased with the guys out there tonight,” said Banas. “They should be very happy with the job they did. We only had one practice together with a full team, because of the limited numbers and working with the varsity. We tell the kids our goals are: One, have fun, Two, develop them for the varsity, and Three, get better each week. The ultimate is for them to consider this as a learning experience.
“I would like to thank all the Tyrone fans who traveled to the game. We had more fans there than Bald Eagle Area did and they were the home team. That is really saying something about Tyrone football and the interest of the community.”
The Tyrone junior Varsity (0-1) will travel again next Monday, The Little Eagles play the Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties at Philipsburg. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
