The Tyrone Golden Eagles finished the regular season undefeated with a 35-27 win over visiting Philipsburg-Osceola last Friday night. While it was not their best performance of the season by a longshot, finishing the Coronavirus shorted regular season undefeated is an accomplishment that makes Tyrone Head Coach John Franco proud.

“We’re undefeated. Yes, it’s only playing five games, and you think that wouldn’t be as satisfying, but in a lot of ways, it’s more satisfying because I have never experienced a season where there was so much adversity. It’s really difficult to overcome that as a professional athlete let alone a high school athlete,” said Franco.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Mounties took an early 6-0 lead as the Eagles defense struggled to stop the Philipsburg running game.

“I don’t think that was our best performance… If we want to win a district championship we need to play better,” said quarterback Brandon Lucas.

But the Golden Eagles persevered, taking back the lead less than two minutes later and never trailed after that.

The game started out very uneventful for both teams. The ball was bounced back and forth between both teams during the first quarter. The Eagles got the ball from a fumble recovery early in the first quarter, but the Mounties defense stopped the Eagles drive as the teams exchanged unsuccessful drives. 

In the second quarter, P-O scored on a one-yard touchdown by quarterback Ryan Whitehead. The Mounties failed to complete the extra point after the touchdown. 

But Tyrone answered right back with an explosive kick return by Corrie Beck that put the Eagles on the five-yard line. Within three plays Tyrone scored their first touchdown and with the Kendall Markley extra point, the Eagles took a 7-6 lead.

But the Golden Eagles were not down in the second quarter. A Tommy Hicks interception with only one minute remaining resulted in a Brandon Lucas scramble put the Eagles within the five-yard line. A quick pass to Keegan Gwinn in the endzone with only 17 seconds remaining in the half gave Tyrone a 14-6 halftime lead. 

The third quarter was also in favor of the Golden Eagles. The Eagles scored early in the third with a Tommy Hicks 38 yard run into the endzone. Kendall Markley put the ball in for the extra point. The Eagles increased their lead to 21-6.

But the Mounties were not ready to fold and set up a drive later in the third to score once again.

An eleven-yard pass by Whitehead gave the Mounties gave them another touchdown. The Mounties successfully got a two-point conversion making up for their missed field goals. 

The Eagles were determined to hold the lead. A sixty-one yard run by Brandon Lucas boosted the Eagles even more. As usual, Markley made the extra point widening the Eagles score to 28-14. 

The Mounties would outscore Tyrone in the fourth quarter. PO scored first from a 24-yard run. But Tyrone finally put the game away on a one-yard touchdown from Brandon Lucas. 

“I’m very excited [for playoffs]. I believe that if we play to our potential that we will win a district championship,” said Lucas. 

The Mounties scored one more time but time was on the Golden Eagles side and the Eagles won 35-27, finishing their regular season undefeated.

Tyrone plays Penn Cambria at Tyrone this Saturday at 7:00 PM in the opening round of the District 6 playoffs.

Records: Tyrone (5-0); Philipsburg-Osceola (1-4)

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Philipsburg-Osceola 0 6 8 13 –27

Tyrone 0 14 14 7 –35

Second Quarter

PO–Whitehead 1 run (kick failed), 8:09

T–Lucas 1 run (Markley kick), 6:40

T–Gwinn 3 pass from Lucas (Markley kick), :17.1

Third Quarter

T–Hicks 38 run (Markley kick), 10:41

PO–Depto 11 pass from Whitehead (Martin pass from Whitehead), 3:34

T–Lucas 61 run (Markley kick), 2:31

Fourth Quarter

PO–N. Gustkey 24 run (Rishel kick), 7:01

T–Lucas 1 run (Markley kick), 1:54

PO–Stamm 50 pass from Whitehead (kick failed), :17.4

TEAM STATISTICS 

First downs

PO- 16

T – 13

Total yards

PO -330

T – 326

Rushes-yards

PO – 46-214

T – 28-287

Yards passing

PO – 116

T – 39

Passing (comp.-att.-int)

PO – 7-12-2

T – 6-9-0

Punts-avg.

PO – 2-28.5

T – 3-38.6

Fumbles-lost

PO – 1-1

T – 1-1

Penalties-yards

PO – 4-19

T – 6-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Philipsburg-Osceola, Stamm 29-148, N. Gustkey 5-53, Weitoish 2-9, Martin 3-7, Whitehead 7-(-3).

Tyrone, Lucas 10-154, Hicks 16-133, Beck 2-1.

PASSING

Philipsburg-Osceola, Whitehead 7-12-2-116.

Tyrone, Lucas 6-9-0-39.

RECEIVING

Philipsburg-Osceola, Stamm 1-50, Weitoish 2-47, Depto 2-14, Martin 1-7, N. Gustkey 1-5.

Tyrone, Gripp 2-29, Rhoades, 1-4, Hicks 1-3, Gwinn 1-3, Gampe 1-0.