After watching a first half lead slip away in last week’s loss to Bald Eagle Area, Tyrone came out of the locker room ready to play football Monday night in their 18-14 win over the Mounties of Philipsburg-Osceola to improve the Eagles record to 2-1.
The already depleted Golden Eagles had to clear yet another hurdle on their way to a victory, as they were without the services of freshman running back Brinton Mingle. Mingle, who had supplied 194 running yards in Tyrone’s first two games, was unable to play due to a hand injury.
“You have to play with the hand you’re dealt,” said Tyrone’s junior varsity head coach Chuck Banas when asked about the loss of his running back. “We had guys playing in positions they’d never played in, it was tough.”
Mingle’s absence in the Golden Eagle running game showed, as Tyrone was only able to muster 84 total yards on the ground. Shane Christine was the leading rusher, gaining 70 yards on 18 carries.
After trading unsuccessful possessions to start the game, Tyrone took over near midfield after Loy Bonsell’s 27 yard punt return. Two runs yielded no yards, but Bill Schreckengost fired a 10 yard pass to Jason Wilson for the first down. From there, Tyrone ran its way the last 40 yards, with Christine capping the possession with a five-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good.
Philipsburg made some mistakes on their ensuing series, giving up a five-yard penalty and then losing ten yards on a sack. To make matters worse for the Mounties, Wilson stepped in front of quarterback Jeff Winters pass to set up Tyrone at their own 49. However, the two teams traded fumbles, and after stopping Tyrone, the Mounties attacked the perimeter of the opposing defense, picking up 21 yards on two quarterback bootlegs and then scoring when Winters rolled to his left and hit Nick Reiter in the end zone. The two point conversion put them ahead 8-6.
With only a minute left in the half, Tyrone could have played it safe and ran the clock out. Instead, they rode the arm of Bill Schreckengost 65 yards to regain the lead. The junior quarterback found Jeremy Myers and Jason Wilson open on quick outs, then handed off to Christine for an eleven yard draw play. On the next call, Jeremy Myers faked the quick out and then burned past the Mountie corner, hauling in a pretty 29 yard pass from his quarterback, then diving into the end zone.
The Mounties came right back after getting the ball to start the second half. Philipsburg got a running game going, driving 60 yards in just over five minutes. Jason Wilson broke up the attempted two point conversion, but Philipsburg had taken over 14-12.
Tyrone’s next possession went nowhere, and Philipsburg took over on their own 20, after Jeremy Myers’ punt just barely rolled into the end zone. Things looked grim for the Eagles, as P-O mounted another drive. But that’s when Adam Swayne and Tyson Gillman made a gigantic play for Tyrone. On 2nd and 20, Gillman forced a Winters fumble in the backfield, and Swayne picked up the pigskin and carried it 35 yards down to the Mountie five. Schreckengost punched in the eventual game winner on a sneak, but his two point conversion pass fell incomplete.
Philipsburg’s hopes were kept alive, however, when a penalty brought back a punt that would have pinned the Mounties inside their ten. P-O blocked Tyrone’s second punt attempt, and took over at their opponent’s 35 yard line.
The Golden Eagle defense allowed the Mounties inside the 15, but geared up and stopped Philipsburg when Jason Wilson sealed the deal with a fourth down interception.
“We had a gut check right there at the end,” commented Banas on his defense’s stand to close the game. Banas’ Eagles travel to Hollidaysburg next Monday evening to face the Golden Tigers.
