It’s still early in the season, but the injury bug has already taken its toll on the Golden Eagles, especially on the offensive line. The Eagles have two starters with injuries that will keep them off the field for multiple weeks.
Junior right guard John Stanton has struggled with injuries throughout his high school career, and unfortunately, this year has been no different.
Stanton sustained a back injury in his freshman season, and a hand injury in his sophomore year, both of which shortened his season.
However, a leg injury sustained in the off-season during a summer basketball game at Reservoir Park was his most serious, resulting in an ACL and meniscus tear, and a partial LCL tear which required surgery to repair the damage.
“John was a massive part of the line, whenever we lost him everybody had to step up,” said junior Owen Oakes.
The average ACL surgery recovery is nine to twelve months, however, Stanton elected to receive a new type of surgery, referred to as a fertilized ACL reconstruction surgery, which cuts the recovery down by more than half, to a minimum of three months.
Despite the injury, Stanton has been a great teammate, attending every practice and game to support his team. He has also been working relentlessly in his physical therapy and rehab processes to return as soon as possible.
“My rehab is going good. I’m just focusing on making small steps every day. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my therapist Kyle from Drayer,” Stanton said.
Doctors recently extended his recovery by a couple of weeks to minimize the chance of reaggravating the injury, but Stanton is still confident that he will play this season.
Junior linebacker and starting left tackle Owen Oakes hasn’t been on the injury report since his 9th-grade junior high season when he broke his wrist in the final minutes of a game.
However, this year Oakes dislocated his ankle in the second quarter against Johnstown.
The injury occurred as Oakes was running down Johnstown’s quarterback Julius Reed. With a quick change of direction, Oakes got his cleat stuck in the turf leading to a dislocated ankle.
Oakes was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. Doctors put his ankle back into place and an X-ray revealed no fractures.
An MRI later determined that there were two torn ligaments on each side of his ankle, holding it in place.
“Hopefully I can get back before the end of the season, but right now it’s looking doubtful,” Oakes said.
Stanton is coming up on the end of his recovery but still has a few weeks remaining until he’ll be back under the Friday night lights.
Stanton says he will be back in time for the playoffs.
“I would do absolutely anything to get on the field. I am pushing myself harder than ever to get back,” said John Stanton.
With two key starting offensive linemen being out for a large portion of the season, the Golden Eagles had to rely on their depth, giving several athletes a bigger chance to contribute.
Juniors Alex Starr and Kayden Ansman have answered the call, and replaced the varsity starters at their respective positions.
“Ansman stepped up in a big role when Owen went down. Starr is continuing to improve with every snap he plays,” said junior wide receiver and defensive back Eli Woomer.
“The injuries definitely hurt the team. When I heard about John’s injury, I knew I had to put a lot more work in so the team could count on me to fill the spot,” said Alex Starr.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior Marshall Martin has stepped up at middle linebacker for Oakes, while sophomore Kolsen Moore is taking over Stanton’s spot on the defensive line.
Martin got called upon off the bench and immediately made a difference with two interceptions and multiple tackles, including one for a loss, in his first six quarters as a starter.
Martin has done all of this on short notice, not expecting to be in a starting situation when the season first began.
“Owen will be hard to replace, but I know I can fill his shoes,” Martin said.
Moore hopes Stanton will be back soon, but appreciates the opportunity to contribute in his absence.
“It feels good to have the opportunity to start on the defensive line for varsity, especially after only playing JV last year, but I feel bad for John because he didn’t get a full season this year and I hope he can return soon,” Moore said.
Despite the adversity, Tyrone Head Coach John Franco has remained optimistic about the situation.
“The injuries to our lineman this year have been substantial and we really needed a couple of players to step up, take over and do a good job,” Franco said. “They have worked very hard in practice and are getting better every day, and we fully expect them to do a very good job.”
Injuries have plagued Tyrone’s offensive line and defensive backfield, but their running backs are no exception.
Sophomore Caleb Whitby is a contributing backfield member for the 2024 Tyrone Golden Eagles, but he only appeared as a running back in one game this year. Whitby plays a big part in the running back rotation and on special teams for kick returners.
Whitby was returning a kick in week one, He was hit from the right side on a cutback move, and suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain.
“He is a huge part of our team, it hurts to lose him this early in the season… it is important for the next man to step up” Said Ashton Emigh, a close friend and teammate of Whitby.
When the injury first occurred, he was expected to be out 6-8 weeks and maybe need surgery. Now, he found out that he will be back in 2-4 weeks. He will be eligible to return in week four, and will be able to practice again.
The injury proved to be a rough start to Whitby’s season.
“It really sucks to get injured this early in the season and I hate not being able to play,” Whitby said.
His recovery up to this point has consisted of a boot, a brace, and now active rehab processes.
Whitby sees his recovery as a successful process. “[It’s been] good and I am on my way to getting back fast.”
The Golden Eagles’ depth will continue to be tested throughout the rest of the season until these starters return.
The Eagles will be in action at home on Friday night against a talented Bald Eagle fresh off a 49-7 rout of Penns Valley on their home field.
