The Tyrone Golden Eagle football team accomplished at least two things with its 34-14 win over Indian Valley last night at Mitchell Field in Lewistown.
First, the Eagles stamped their RSVP to the District 5-6 playoff committe, mathematically qualifying for the 2002 post-season and opening the door for a possible home playoff game.
Second, they showed that winning big ball games is something they still can do, and it’s a lot easier when you keep the ball off the turf and out of the hands of opposing defensive backs.
Tyrone built a 26-6 halftime lead and controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish to move to 5-3 on the season and end its Big 8 Conference slate 5-1.
Meanwhile the Warriors, who just a week ago were playing Huntingdon in a matchup of unbeaten teams for the top spot in the Big 8, fell to 5-2 and 3-2 in the league.
“We said coming in that we had to control the line of scrimmage, but Tyrone did,” said Indian Valley coach Gawen Stoker.
In all, the Eagles’ line opened the holes that allowed Tyrone to amass 249 yards on the ground.
Brice Mertiff was responsible for a huge chunk of it, gaining 192 yards and scoring three times on 31 carries. It was the sophomore’s second straight 100-plus yard performance and his third of the season.
“This was probably the best game our line has played all season,” said Tyrone coach John Franco. “And Brice continues to get better each week.”
Quarterback Tyler Mertiff completed 9 of 14 passes for 140 yards and two more scores and Aaron Jeffries had six catches for 88 yards.
However, while the Eagles’ offense was able to move the ball seemingly at will against the Warriors, who were surrendering just two touchdowns per game, the job done by Tyrone’s defense against a tricky Indian Valley wishbone attack was foremost on Franco’s mind following the game.
“It’s very difficult to defend because it’s a true triple threat attack,” said Franco. “Steve Guthoff did a tremendous job preparing the kids for this. He had a great defensive game plan.”
Valley, which came in averaging nearly 400 yards in total offense per game, was limited to 243 by the Eagles, and broke only three plays for longer than 16 yards.
But in the end, the most glaring difference between last night’s game and the three games Tyrone lost this season against high-profile opponents was the Eagles’ ability to hold onto the ball and not commit costly turnovers. Tyrone turned the ball over just once – a fumble in the second quarter – and capitalized on two by the Warriors.
The biggest came with just over five minutes left in the first half after Tyrone had scored to go ahead 13-6. Ben Gummo’s kickoff was high but short, and fell right in the middle of a pocket in the Valley receiving team. Josh Good pounced on the loose ball and Tyrone took over at the IV-29.
It took five straight running plays to score from there, with Brice Mertiff covering the last five to give Tyrone a 20-6 advantage and a great deal of momentum.
“That was outstanding,” said Franco. “I’ve said it would be nice to play a big game and not have six or seven turnovers to see what we can do.”
Tyrone scored once more in the half after Valley went four-plays-and-out with 1:23 remaining. On second down from the T-26, Tyler Mertiff hit Tom Crowl for a 21-yard gain to the 47. Two plays later, Tyler Mertiff hooked up with Jeffries for a 53-yard score that drained most of the fight out of the Warriors.
Jeffries’ defender bit on an out-fake and slipped to the ground just as Jeffries made his break up field. Tyler Mertiff eluded one tackle in the backfield and threw a strike on the run to Jeffries, who was standing alone at the 12. Jeffries adjusted on the ball and sprinted into the endzone with 12 seconds left in the half to send Tyrone into the locker room ahead 26-6.
“That was a big play,” said Franco. “Jeffries was actually the second read on the play. It looked the like the DB fell and Mert’s a heck of a quarterback. He made a nice play.”
The Warriors tried to make a game of it with an inspired drive on their first possession of the second half. It covered 69 yards on nine plays and ate nearly four minutes off the clock.
Quarterback Jeff Hayes started it with a 24-yard run to the T-45, and four plays later ran for 12 to the 13. Derrick Weaver powered it home from the four, and ran in the two-point conversion, cutting Tyrone’s lead to 26-14.
However, Valley was unable to sustain any offensive momentum after that, with their next two series consisting of six plays and one lost fumble.
“You do a good job and you come back and you still end up in a hole,” said Stoker. “Turnovers always hurt.”
Tyrone scored first to go ahead 7-0 late in the first quarter after a six-play, 51-yard drive. Tyler Mertiff connected with Brice Mertiff and Crowl for gains of 16 and 15 yards, respectively, to move the Eagles to the IV-20, and three plays later he hit a tip-toeing Jeffries in the front corner of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown pass. Gummo kicked the extra-point.
Valley answered on its next possession with a six-play, 70-yard drive that was capped on the first play of the second quarter when Matt Fetzer broke free up the middle and sprinted 35 yards for the score. Hayes’ pass to Weaver fell short on Valley’s try for two, and the Warriors trailed 7-6 with 11:50 left in the half.
Valley had a golden opportunity to go ahead when Tyrone fumbled at its own 49 on the ensuing series. Fetzer eluded three tackles and scampered for 23 yards on first down to the T-28, but against a strong surge by the Tyrone defensive line the Warriors could manage a net of just three yards on their next four plays and turned the ball over on downs at the 25.
From there, the Eagles drove 75 yards on five plays to go ahead 13-6. Gummo and Brice Mertiff started it with back-to-back runs of 14 yards, and Brice Mertiff finished it with a 26-yard touchdown run down the sideline.
GRID TIDBITS: Gummo recovered a fumble for the Eagles … Brice Mertiff scored one other touchdown on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter … along with his fumble recovery on special teams, Good also recorded a sack that forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. Good was playing after sitting out last week with a concusion … Tyrone totaled 389 yards in offense … Brice Mertiff boomed one third quarter punt under presure 44 yards to the Valley 8 … IV plays Lewistown next Friday in a city rivalry, while Tyrone travels to Punxsutawney.
Tyrone 34 Indian Valley 14
Score by quarter
Tyrone – 7 19 0 8- 34
Indian Valley -0 6 8 0 -14
Scoring summary
first quarter
T- Jeffries 6 pass from T. Mertiff (Gummo kick) 2:25
second quarter
IV- Fetzer 35 run (pass failed) 11:50
T- B. Mertiff 27 run (kick blocked) 5:15
T- B. Mertiff 5 run (Gummo kick) 2:59
T- Jeffries 53 pass from T. Mertiff (kick failed) 0:12
third quarter
IV- Weaver 3 run (Weaver run) 8:17
fourth quarter
T- B. Mertiff 5 run (B. Mertiff run) 10:34
Team Statistics
T IV
First Downs 24 12
Rushes 46 26
Rush yards 249 173
Pass Att. 14 16
Pass Comp. 9 8
Pass Yards 140 70
Interceptions 0 0
Fumbles lost 1 1
Penalty yards 3-20 2-15
Punts/Avg. 2-385 3-34.6
Total Offense 389 243
Individual Statistics
Rushing
Tyrone: B. Mertiff 31-192 (3 TD), Gummo 8-46, Mingle 4-12, T. Mertiff 3-(-1).
Indian Valley: Fetzer 7-76 (1 TD), Weaver 7-21 (1 TD), Stewart 6-42, Hayes 3-23, Colbert 3-11.
Passing
Tyrone: T. Mertiff 9-14, 140, 2 TD, 0 Int.
Indian Valley: Hayes 8-16, 70 0 TD, 0 Int.
Receiving
Tyrone: Jeffries 6-88 (2 TD), Crowl 2-37, B. Mertiff 1-15.
Indian Valley: Weaver 3-12, Demi 1-16, Geissinger 1-11.
