The Look Ahead: Central Edition
Each week of the season, senior Nick Bonsell looks ahead to the Golden Eagle’s next opponent
What has become a pretty intense rivalry between the Tyrone Golden Eagles and the Central Scarlett Dragons continues this Friday night at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field in Tyrone.
Where do we begin? While this rivalry isn’t as notorious as the Backyard Brawl, these two schools definitely have it out for each other. Tensions have been high for the past several meetings of these perennially successful squads.
While rivalry isn’t as notorious as the Backyard Brawl, these two schools definitely have it out for each other
Last year the Eagles knocked off the Dragons in a tight game that ended with a key interception in the final minute by Tyrone senior Jake Makdad. Quarterback Garrett Hunter then took a knee to seal the 20-13 Tyrone victory.
After week one wins over Tussey Mountain and Bellwood-Antis, both teams are flying high coming into this contest.
However, unlike last year’s game, Tyrone is inexperienced in some areas, while Central brings back basically their entire team.
In order for the Eagles to win this game they must be able to contain quarterback Noah Benton and wide receiver Justin Helsel. They’ll need to limit the big plays and chew up as much clock as possible while they’re on the offensive side of the ball.
For Tyrone’s offense, they will want to keep it simple. As usual, the game plan will be to establish the run early. Since most of the Eagles’ experience is up front, the Dragons will have to respect the running game, and put more men in the box. With that approach, the Eagles should have options all over the field.
Central’s defense is very unique. They run a high risk, high reward defense, which the Eagles do not see very often. In this style, each defender is one on one against an offensive player. So if the Eagles can make one player miss, they may get a huge play.
They have a few players, we have a team
— Junior Michael Lewis
For Central, their offense is very talented. They bring back their entire core group from last season. With some experience under their belt they may have a slight edge on the youngsters of Tyrone’s defense.
But, as Tyrone junior Michael Lewis said “They have a few players, we have a team.”
If Tyrone expects to pull off a win this Friday, they will have to do so by trusting each other and working together.
Hi I’m Nick Bonsell. I am a senior at Tyrone Area High School. I play football, hockey, wrestling, and track. I look to go to college and get a good...
