After a disappointing 2017 season, which began with an overtime loss to Bellwood, the pressure was on the Golden Eagles to start the season strong and bring the Backyard Brawl trophy back to Tyrone.

With timely plays and strong performances by senior quarterback Denver Light (14-23 for 230 yards and one touchdown) and senior running back Zac Albright (95 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown), Tyrone delivered for the packed hometown crowd, defeating visiting Bellwood 16-7.

“It feels incredible. All the time and effort we put in finally paid off especially with the crowd behind us at home,” said junior Brandon Homan.

Tyrone’s defense held the explosive Bellwood offense to only 128 yards of total offense on the night. Key stops by Zac Albright, Kyle Silva, and a forced fumble and recovery by Cory Lehman deep in Tyrone’s territory stopped several key Bellwood drives.

After Tyrone’s first drive was stalled Bellwood took over looking to put that first touchdown on the board. Bellwood picked up a few first downs but Tyrone’s Kyle Silva delivered a shot to the Bellwood quarterback on third down to end the Blue Devil drive.

Both defenses dominated in a quick first quarter neither giving up any points.

The second quarter looked to be another defensive standoff, but with four minutes remaining in the first half, Bellwood punched through the Tyrone defense, taking a 7-0 lead.

Tyrone tied the game with less than a minute remaining in the first half. Denver Light connected with Damon Gripp for 35 yards, setting up a 9 yard run by Zac Albright.

Bellwood milked the clock for the last 45 seconds and the first half ended in a 7-7 tie.

The third quarter also moved quickly with both teams not amounting any offense, the third quarter came to a close with both teams still locked in the trenches tied 7-7.

Tyrone broke the tie early in the fourth quarter on a drive highlighted by a Denver Light pass to Brandon Homan down the sideline. Homan was able to keep his footing and was eventually taken down at the 18 yard line.

The  next play sophomore Damon Gripp sped past the Bellwood defense hauling in the 18 yard touchdown pass from Denver Light.

“Coach told me to go deep and Denver set me up with a good pass that led to a TD,” said Gripp.

Tyrone missed the extra point but captured their first lead of the game 16-7 with six minutes remaining.

After holding strong Tyrone’s defense was not going to buckle now as they forced a Bellwood turnover on fourth down with 3:49 remaining in the game.

Tyrone sealed the deal on the next drive as a 44 yard pass from Denver Light to senior tight end Cory Lehman set up the Golden Eagles at the Bellwood six yard line. After the drive stalled, junior kicker Keegan Raabe, in his first high school game, drilled a 26 yard field goal, putting Tyrone up 16-7, ultimately sealing the deal for Tyrone.

After starting the season 1-0, Tyrone travels to face off against Mountain League rival Central on Friday in Martinsburg.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bellwood-Antis 0 7 0 0 — 7

Tyrone 0 7 0 9 — 16

Second Quarter

BA–Plank 3 run (Schmoke kick), 4:44.

T–Albright 7 run (Raabe kick), :49.7.

Fourth Quarter

T–Gripp 18 pass from Light (kick failed), 9:11.

T–Raabe 21 FG, 1:47.

TEAM STATISTICS 

First downs

Bellwood – 8, Tyrone – 13

Total yards

Bellwood -128, Tyrone – 336

Rushing yards

Bellwood – 29-67, Tyrone -28-115

Passing yards

Bellwood – 61, Tyrone –  221

Passing (comp.-att.-int.)

Bellwood – 5-12-0, Tyrone – 13-21-0

Punts-avg.

Bellwood – 5-34, Tyrone – 3-38

Fumbles-lost

Bellwood – 3-1, Tyrone – 1-0

Penalties-yards

Bellwood – 2-15, Tyrone – 6-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Bellwood-Antis, Walker 7-34, Kost 6-25, Frederick 2-12, Plank 2-7, Wolfe 8-6, Noonan 1-4, Miller 1-(-4), TEAM 2-(-31).

Tyrone, Albright 22-98, Light 4-15, Lehman 1-4, TEAM 1-(-2).

PASSING

Bellwood-Antis, Wolfe 4-10-0-56, Miller 1-2-0-5.

Tyrone, Light 13-21-0-221.

RECEIVING

Bellwood-Antis, Mallon 4-19, Hale 1-42.

Tyrone, Hicks 4-27, Gripp 3-71, Lehman 3-58, Homan 1-47, Albright 1-11, Reader 1-10.