Last year at this time the Tyrone Golden Eagles were 0-3 and quarterback Denver Light was nursing a shoulder injury that eventually forced him out of the starting QB role. This year the story couldn’t be more different for the team or the senior signal caller. Tyrone’s aerial attack was on point again last Friday with Light going 12-20 for 176 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a dominating 44-7 romp over visiting Bishop Carroll.

Coach Jason Wilson attributes Light and the team’s turnaround to an all-around improvement in the team’s general attitude and work ethic.

“These guys have been working great together all year as a team. You can watch it on film how they celebrate together and how they pick each other up after a mistake. They care more about winning then individual success but the success starts up front. The line on both sides have been very physical after three games,” said Wilson.

Another big help in the passing game has been the emergence of sophomore receiver Damon Gripp, who continued his hot streak, hauling in 4 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

Tyrone opened  the scoring halfway through the first quarter when Light hit sophomore Tommy Hicks for a 12 yard score giving Tyrone an early 7-0 lead.

Light gave credit for the team’s second half success to the offensive line.

“I feel like we came out not as hot as we usually do. We fixed it in the second half though. Our line destroyed on both sides of the ball all day and we were able to take the mismatches on the outside. Also our line made holes for Zac to get us into scoring position,” said Light.

Carroll’s only score came on a blocked punt and 35 yard return by BC senior Jarrett Grove, which knotted the score at 7-7.

But Tyrone responded on the next drive with Light hitting a streaking Damon Gripp for a 33 yard score, putting Tyrone back on top 14-7.

Tyrone stopped the next BC drive on a fumble recovered by Brandon Homan giving the Eagles the ball in BC territory with 5 minutes left in the first half.

They added another score as the first half ended when Keegan Raabe drilled a 21 yard field goal as the first half expired with Tyrone leading 17-7.

In the second half Tyrone’s defense ended Bishop Carroll’s drives before they even had a chance to start, leaving the Eagles with excellent field position.

Early in the second half a Bishop Carroll fumble recovered by Tyrone’s Aric Reader set the Eagles up at the Bishop Carroll 33. The next play Denver Light hit junior Brandon Homan for another 33 yard touchdown giving Tyrone a 24-7 lead.

The Golden Eagles were not going to let one slip away as Light connected with Gripp for a 47 yard TD, his second of the night.

Tyrone held a 31-7 lead and after three quarters sophomore quarterback Brandon Lucas came in to relieve Light at the beginning of the fourth.  Lucas and didn’t wait long to kick start his high school career. On his first drive he hit Tommy Hicks for a 19 yard touchdown, his second of the night, giving Tyrone a 38-7 lead with 11:08 left in the game.

On Tyrone’s final drive of the game Lucas took a quarterback keeper 65 yards for the touchdown giving Tyrone a 44-7 lead with 3:28 left in the game.

While senior running back Zac Albright was kept out of the end zone for the first time this season, he still had a good game, racking up another 100 yard performance on 16 carries against the Huskies.

With Tyrone’s 44-7 victory Friday night the Golden Eagles record moves to 3-0 on the season.

Tyrone looks to keep the perfect season going this Friday against Mountain League opponent PO in Philipsburg.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bishop Carroll 0 7 0 0 — 7

Tyrone 7 10 14 13 –44

First Quarter

Tyrone: Hicks 10 pass from Light (Raabe kick), 5:21

Second Quarter

Bishop Carroll: Grove 25 blocked punt return (Hogue kick), 9:45

Tyrone: Gripp 33 pass from Light (Raabe kick), 7:25

Tyrone: Raabe 21 FG, :00

Third Quarter

T–Homan 33 pass from Light (Raabe kick), 11:37

T–Gripp 46 pass from Light (Raabe kick), 6:53

Fourth Quarter

T–Hicks 19 pass from Lucas (Raabe kick), 11:08

T–Lucas 65 run (run failed), 3:28

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs

BC – 5

Tyrone – 13

Total yards

BC – 164

Tyrone – 357

Rushes-yards

BC – 39-114

Tyrone – 28-162

Yards passing

BC: 50

Tyrone: 195

Passing (comp.-att.-int)

BC: 4-9-0

Tyrone: 13-21-0

Punts-avg.

BC 4-35.2

Tyrone 4-22.2

Fumbles-lost

BC 3-2

Tyrone 1-1

Penalties-yards

BC 6-55

Tyrone 3-20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Bishop Carroll: Becquet 10-54, Dumm 3-22, Hogue 8-13, Zazvrskey 13-12, Novak 1-2, Grove 2-2, Beiswenger 2-(-1).

Tyrone: Albright 16-101, Lucas 2-67, Zimmerman 1-4, Beck 1-(-2), Hicks 1-(-2), Light 7-(-6).

PASSING

Bishop Carroll: Zazvrskey 4-8-0-50, Novak 0-1-0-0.

Tyrone: Light 12-19-0-176, Lucas 1-1-0-19, TEAM 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING

Bishop Carroll: Hogue 2-43, Dumm 2-7

Tyrone: Homan 2-56, Gripp 2-54, Hicks 3-40, Albright 2-19, Locke 1-16, Lehman 2-10.