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By KERRY NAYLOR} Some myths were dispelled in Tyrone’s 40-12 blowout last night against Huntingdon at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field in a game between the top two teams in District 6-AA. Myth No. 1: In big game situations, the Eagles will rise and fall on the arm of junior quarterback Steve Franco. Not really. Last night, the Eagles were determined to stamp their mark with their running game. Eight of Tyrone’s first 10 plays were runs, and with junior Christian Getz running with alacrity, the Eagles pounded Huntingdon for 186 yards on the ground. Getz himself had 103 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, giving him three consecutive games where he gained 100 yards in a single half of football. “The line was blocking amazing,” said Getz. “It’s a good rivalry between us and Huntingdon. We just wanted it more in the beginning. I definitely felt like I needed to pick up the running game, but that wouldn’t have been possible without the line.” Getz did not play in the second half after suffering a contusion in his chest, but he and Tyrone coach John Franco said his prognosis looks good for next week. Myth No. 2: Take away Nick Patton, and you shut down Tyrone’s passing attack. Not last night. Patton caught just one pass for 26 yards and the Eagles were still able to devastate the ‘Cats with their long-range passing attack. Markus Wagner caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Franco in the first quarter, and Derrick Emigh hauled in a 45-yard bomb in the second. With Patton limited to a season-low in receptions, Franco still completed 7 of 12 passes for 141 yards. Myth No. 3: That while the ‘Cats were atop the District 6-AA standings with 360 points, they were in the same class as Tyrone. Huntingdon is traditionally a team that makes tremendous strides during the regular season, but for four quarters last night, it wasn’t even close. Tyrone improved to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Mountain League’s Nittany Division. Huntingdon fell to 3-1 and 1-1. “I thought we responded well to the challenge,” said Coach John Franco. “We’ve still got a long way to go, and I know it sounds like coach-speak, but we’ve just got to keep getting better. It’s very early.” The ‘Cats handed Tyrone a short field with turnovers on their first two possessions, and a game with so many layers of intrigue never lived up to its billing. “We preach and preach that if you’re going to win big games, you have to win the turnover battle, and that’s pretty much what we did,” Franco said. “That first quarter was Christmas in September,” said Huntingdon coach Jim Zauzig. “You just can’t give Tyrone a two-touchdown lead.” If that’s the case, then the Eagles must have been very nice, because the presents they received were wrapped neatly. On Huntingdon’s third play from scrimmage, Houston Riley fumbled when he was popped for a 4-yard loss by Maverick Mills. JD Dorminy scooped it up and put Tyrone in business at the ‘Cats’ 36. From there it took five plays for Tyrone to get on the board. Following an 11-yard pass to Dorminy on third-and-three from the 17, Getz crashed in from six yards out to put the Eagles up 7-0. Huntingdon’s next drive lasted just two plays before Dorminy picked off Nick Marter at the 22 and returned it 8 yards to the 15. Getz did the rest with runs of 5 and 10 yards, the second of which made it 13-0 at the 6:29 mark of the first quarter. Tyrone’s defense forced five turnovers and stopped six plays behind the line of scrimmage, including three by Corbin Nevling-Ray, who also recorded one solo sack and assisted on another. “I thought our defense was outstanding, and if you’re going to win a game like this, your defense is going to be the key,” said Franco. “It’s nice when you have a short field,” Zauzig said. “Their first and second touchdowns were all short fields. But I like the way they run. They’re not big, but they break tackles and keep their legs moving. But when you get a short field like that, emotions run high. You just can’t give Tyrone that kind of quarter.” Tyrone’s third scoring drive started on its own side of the 50, but it was aided by a 2-yard punt by Jeremy Posey. The big play came on second-and-10 from the Huntingdon 35 when Franco found Wagner wide open behind the coverage for a touchdown with 1:49 left in the opening quarter to increase the lead to 20-0. Despite the aerial highlight, Tyrone demonstrated its commitment to the run on its next series – a 13-play, 78-yard march devoted entirely to the run. Getz alone carried 11 times for 40 yards, including bursts of 13 and 10 yards, and he scored from 1 yard out midway through the second quarter to give Tyrone a 27-0 lead. This time Huntingdon answered, but in an unusual way. On the first play of the ‘Cats’ ensuing series, backup quarterback John O’Korn was intercepted by Dorminy, but at the end of his 18-yard return he was stripped clean by Riley, turning the ball back over Huntingdon. Riley went immediately to work, breaking through the middle of Tyrone’s defense for a 45-yard gain to the 16 on the next play. Tyrone eventually stopped the drive on downs when Wagner batted down an O’Korn pass on fourth down from the 5, but the Eagles were flagged for a late hit, placing the ball on the 3. Riley scored from there and it was 27-6. But for the second straight week, Tyrone was able to execute its 2-minute drill to perfection. Taking over at their own 21 with 1:38 left in the half, the Eagles got to the 42 on a pair of Getz runs before a 14-yard pass from Franco to Getz set the ball at the Huntingdon 45. That was when Franco teamed up with Emigh for a 45-yard touchdown that made it 34-6 at halftime. The Bearcats scored late in the third on a 3-yard run by O’Korn, capping an 8-play, 60-yard drive, but Tyrone answered on its next series, one sparked by Patton’s reception, which moved the ball to the Huntingdon 18. Dorminy finished it off with a 3-yard run to set the final. “It was a total team effort,” said Franco. “But this is just one game, one step on our ladder. We have a long season, and we can’t rest on our laurels. There’s definitely a lot of room for improvement.” GRID TIDBITS: Franco and Charles Adams also had interceptions for Tyrone …
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Team HUNTINGDON – Riley 13-81; Marter 7-22; Guthsall 3-15; O’Korn 5-14; Bell 1-(-3). TYRONE - Getz 19-103; Dorminy 7-27; Burke 10-16; Franco 2-12; Taylor 3-13; Patton 2-10; Snyder 1-3; Adams 1-2. Passing Receiving |
Tyrone Golden Eagles Football 