If the outcome of Friday’s game were determined by statistics alone, Tyrone and Central would have likely ended in a tie.
Unfortunately, that’s not how football works, and Tyrone dropped a close 13-7 game, but the similarities between the Golden Eagles and the Dragons were striking.
Tyrone had 271 yards in total offense to Central’s 261. Both teams completed the exact same number of passes (17) and Central bested Tyrone in passing by just two yards, 217 to 215. Central gained just one more first down than Tyrone, 15 to 14. On the ground, Tyrone had just an 11-yard advantage, 56-45, and in the turnover department, both teams coughed up the ball two times.
Neither offense had much success moving the ball inside the 20s so it was up to the defenses to decide the contest, and in the end Central’s defense proved to be just a bit better, giving them their fifth consecutive win over the Golden Eagles.
“We had our opportunities in the second half,” Tyrone head coach John Franco said. “I think the difference in the game was that they made some big plays when they had to, and we did not.”
Tyrone’s defense was electric to start the game. Junior Marshall Martin found a tipped pass in the middle of the field and capitalized for the first of his two interceptions on the night. Junior Ashton Emigh also corralled Central quarterback Eli Muthler for his first sack of the season.
“The defense played solid throughout the entire game with a bunch of big plays to stop Central’s offense, and create confidence on the defensive side of the ball,” said senior John Stanton.
After a scoreless first quarter, Central quarterback Eli Muthler found tight end Jaxon Detterline for a 14-yard score, giving the Dragons a 7-0 lead.
Tyrone responded with a big kick return from senior Gayge Miller, and the Golden Eagles drove down to the Central 21-yard line, setting up a last-second 38-yard field goal attempt from the left hash that sailed wide right and the Dragons took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Central received the ball in the second half and marched down the field on a 7-play drive, ending with Muthler rushing for a 25-yard touchdown. However, the PAT attempt was no good, making the score 13-0.
On the next series, the Golden Eagles responded with a solid drive to get back in the game.
Ashton Walk found Seth Hoover on a play-action pass for a 55-yard touchdown to put the Eagles within a score.
The Tyrone defense responded on Central’s next drive. Muthler found Detterline open in the middle of the field, but Dettlerline tipped the ball and Tyrone junior Marshall Martin found himself in the right place for his second interception of the game.
The Tyrone defense fought hard, but the offense couldn’t quite get it rolling.
The Golden Eagles staged a couple more solid offensive drives, but they all stalled just outside the red zone.
A key fourth down play occurred when junior wideout Eli Woomer ran a crossing pattern and Central defensive back Eli Muthler made a hit that many on the Tyrone sideline thought should have been a targeting penalty, but with no flag, the ball went to Central on downs.
“The offense needs to finish more drives. We can’t leave points on the field,” Seth Hoover said.
Central escaped Gray Memorial Field with a nail-biting 13-7 win and the Golden Eagles season doesn’t get any easier as they are set to face 2-1 Bald Eagle Area at home for a week 4 matchup.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 0 7 6 0–13
Tyrone 0 0 7 0– 7
Second Quarter
C–Detterline 14 pass from Muthler (Steele kick), :28.
Third Quarter
C–Muthler 24 run (kick failed), 8:16.
T–Hoover 55 pass from Walk (Novak kick), 7:22.
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs
Central: 15
Tyrone: 14
Total yards
Central: 262
Tyrone: 271
Rushes-yards
Central: 25-45
Tyrone: 22-56
Yards passing
Central: 217
Tyrone: 215
Passing (comp.-att.-int.)
Central: 17-36-2
Tyrone: 17-32-1
Punts/avg.
Central: 5-35.4
Tyrone: 4-41.3
Fumbles-lost
Central: 0-0
Tyrone: 1-1
Penalties-yards
Central: 3-25
Tyrone: 7-65
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Central, Beach 12-41, Muthler 8-8, Mickel 2-25, Musei 1-(-1)
Tyrone, Hoover 14-60, Woomer 1-6, Walk 7-(-10).
PASSING
Central, Muthler 17-36-2-217.
Tyrone, Walk 17-32-1-215.
RECEIVING
Central, Hoenstine 8-137, Klotz 3-17, Mickel 2-25, Horn 2-12, Detterline 1-14, Loucks 1-12.
Tyrone, Woomer 7-68, Novak 3-22, Hoover 2-60, Miller 2-43, M. Emigh 1-8, Weston 1-8, Moore 1-6.
