The Tyrone Golden Eagles suffered their first loss this season at the hands of the Clearfield Bisons, 26-14.

The Bisons combined a strong running game, exceptional special teams play and a relentless pass rush to defeat the previously undefeated Golden Eagles.

“We were out-executed from kickoff to the final whistle. They came to play today; we didn’t, plain and simple,” said Tyrone head coach Jason Wilson.

The Bisons started strong on their opening possession, a long drive capped by a Erik Sellers thirty-eight yard touchdown run.  Sellers, the first back to rush for 100 yards against Tyrone this season,  finished the game with 103 yards on 23 carries.

The first of the special teams mistakes occurred on the ensuing kickoff.  Tyrone fumbled the kick and lost possession,  leaving Clearfield with a short field. Sellers then added another touchdown run from a yard out, and the Golden Eagles were down 13-0 before their offense even took the field.

However, Tyrone would respond on their first possession with a touchdown drive of their own highlighted by the play of senior tailback Aleic Hunter.

Hunter finished the day with twelve carries for seventy-four yards and a score and also added four receptions for fifty-five yards. Hunter’s performance was one of the few bright spots for Tyrone as their offense was held to only 191 total yards.

Midway through the second quarter the Bisons  blocked a Ricky Reader punt deep in Tyrone’s own end.  The block was recovered by Clearfield’s Maines in the end zone for a Bison’s touchdown, making the score 20-7.

The Eagles showed signs of life again just before the half with a decent drive, capped off by a Garrett Hunter to Duane Boone fade to the back of the end zone, making the halftime score 20-14.

But the second half was all Clearfield as their defense was able to control the line of scrimmage and the field possession for the remainder of the game.

“They really won the battle on the line,” said Tyrone quarterback Garrett Hunter,”they did a great job pressuring me in the pocket throughout the game.”

Pressure on the quarterback led directly to two Clearfield interceptions. The Eagles were also held to only fifty yards rushing on twenty two carries.  In comparison, Clearfield ran for 195 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.

Add to that the muffed kickoff and blocked punt that led directly to Bison scores, proved ultimately to be too much for the Eagles to overcome.

Looking forward, Tyrone will play Central Mountain this Friday at home on senior night.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Clearfield 13 7 6 0 – 26

Tyrone 7 7 0 0 – 14

First quarter

C-Sellers 38 run (kick failed), 8:43.

C-Sellers 1 run (Herrington kick), 2:32.

T-A. Hunter 6 run (Vipond kick), 1:15.

Second quarter

C-Maines recovers blocked punt in end zone (Herrington kick), 6:16.

T-Boone 18 pass from G. Hunter (Vipond kick), :11.

Third quarter

C-Sellers 7 run (pass failed), 7:29.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING:

Clearfield-Sellers 23-102, Caldwell 18-81, Spaid 2-14, Lezzer 3-0, TEAM 2-(-2).

Tyrone-A. Hunter 12-74, Sleeth 1-1, G. Hunter 6-(-44), Farias 1-(-2), Bakhsheshe 2-21.

PASSING:

Clearfield-Spaid 2-8-0-33, Sellers 2-3-0-1.

Tyrone-G. Hunter 12-32-2-141.

RECEIVING:

Clearfield-Lezzer 1-3, Wingate 1-(-2), Sellers 1-26, Caldwell 1-7.

Tyrone-A. Hunter 4-55, Crawford 4-44, Boone 3-33, Getz 1-9.

INTERCEPTIONS:

Clearfield-Sellers, Lezzer.

TEAM STATISTICS 

First downs: C-10 T-14

Rushes-yards: C-48-195 T-22-50

Passing (comp.-att.-int.): C-4-11-0 T-12-32-0

Yards passing: C-34 T-141

Total yards: C-229 T-191

Fumbles-lost:  C-0-0 T-3-1

Penalties-yards: C-6-46 T-5-35

Punts-avg.:  C-4-35.8 T-4-23.3