The Tyrone Golden Eagles come into this year’s Backyard Brawl game with a fire in their hearts. Having lost the last three years, the Eagles are looking to take advantage of their many returning starters and bring the trophy back to Tyrone.

“We’re 0-3 in the past three years against them. Even though they lost a lot of people we still have to come out with a chip on our shoulder,” said junior defensive end and tight end Andrew Weaver.

Tyrone had a rocky season last year with a very young team, going 5-6 on the season and ending in the first round of the playoffs.

With the majority of their starters returning, however, Tyrone has much-needed experience coming into the game this year.

Bellwood may have lost key linemen Cooper Keen and Cooper Guyer, but their line is still just as strong with Andrew Nycum and Ethan Norris.

Just like last year, the offensive and defensive line are going to be the key to winning the game, and Tyrone hasn’t lost any on their line, returning all five players.

Key linemen Braden Ewing and Dylon Brower both return at the guard spots and look to keep making the calls up front.

In the backfield, Ashton Walk looks to take over the quarterback spot full-time this year after earning the position halfway through the year last year.

Ross Gampe and Deegan Balduf both return at the wide receiver positions along with Colten Veres, Joshua Patterson, Andrew Weaver, and A.J. Coleman taking a step up. Tyrone’s running game also has familiar faces with Brady Ronan, and Kolten Miller returning.

On defense, Tyrone will be looking to replace key signal caller Corrie Beck due to his graduation, but the Patterson twins and Dravyn Crowell are taking up the helm.

Defensive end Ross Gampe will also be returning at the position providing key pressures throughout the season.

The struggle will be on the interior with the defensive tackles for Tyrone not providing much in the previous two years.

Along with Ewing and Brower, Jimmy Fogleman, Cian Hockenberry, and freshman John Stanton will have to attack up the middle to stop the big Bellwood line.

The rivals will kick off at 7 pm at Gray Memorial Field in Tyrone.