The second seeded Tyrone Golden Eagles will host the 7th seeded Forest Hill Rangers in the first round of the District 6 AA playoffs this Friday.

The Golden Eagles soared through the regular season and barely missed getting the first seed in the playoffs with a record of 9-1.

The Rangers uncharacteristically had to scrape through their first 10 games, just making the playoffs with a 5-5 record.

So if wins and losses were the only measure of a team, it would appear that Tyrone might have an easy matchup this week.

However, Forest Hills might have what it takes to be Tyrone’s kryptonite this year.

Truth is the Rangers are much better than their 5-5 record. In fact, many would argue that they are one of the top three teams in the entire bracket.

Several of the Rangers’ losses can be accredited to key injuries early in the season, especially to offensive Swiss-Army-knife Joe Donoughe, who was sidelined for five weeks early in the season.

Moreover, two of the Rangers five losses were so close to being W’s that it hurts. Forest Hills lost to powerhouses Bedford and Greater Johnstown by a combined total of two points.

“Forest Hills is a great team. This may be the best team we have played so far this season,” senior wide receiver and vocal team leader Nick Getz said, “but we know what we are capable of, and we just need to execute this Friday at home.”

Tyrone has proved that they can play with the best of them.

Just last week the Golden Eagles made a statement for both themselves and District 6 when they defeated Chestnut Ridge, the first seed of District 5 AA. The Lions came into the game averaging over 200 rushing yards per game. Tyrone held them to under 20.

It will be interesting to see how each team will adjust to a different type of opponent.

Tyrone has not yet seen a running back as shifty and as talented as Forest Hill’s Shareef Blough. The Rangers have speed on the outside and can stretch the field fairly easily.

Likewise, the Rangers have not played a team with a dominant downhill, smash mouth running game that Tyrone prides itself on.

It is a tale as old as time. Forest Hills vs. Tyrone.

The two perennial powers in District 6 AA  for the past 20 years on the same field for yet another time. If there is a game to watch on Friday night, it’s this one.