A week ago, after watching his team limp its way to a 26-12 win over lowly Illinois in a sluggish Homecoming performance, Penn State coach Joe Paterno said bluntly that the Nittany Lions played lousy.
He later softened his stance after having a chance to view the game tape, concluding that while some aspects of his team’s performance were lacking, lousy may have been a little harsh.
Tyrone coach John Franco went the opposite route this week.
In the minutes immediately following the Eagles’ 21-14 win over Penns Valley last Friday – a game where two Tyrone turnovers resulted in Ram touchdowns and the Eagles’ first deficit of the season – Franco focused on his team’s heart in coming from behind.
After viewing the film, his view shifted, so to speak.
“Lousy,” Franco said of Tyrone’s effort against Valley. “I did not think we played well. I was most disappointed in the things that make us special – playing hard and outhitting our opponents. I didn’t think our big guys or leaders played all that hard either.
“I’m pleased we found a way to win. I think that shows a lot about our character. We found ways to win. But you can’t make a living off that. Eventually, it catches up to you.”
A first quarter similar to the one the Eagles endured in Spring Mills against Johnstown (7-2), which visits Gray-Veterans Memorial Field tomorrow for Senior Night (7 p.m.), could be way too much for Tyrone to withstand. That’s because, unlike the Rams – whose offense mostly sputtered without the assistance of Eagle turnovers – the Trojans plan on scoring a touchdown or two all on their own.
“Speed, speed, speed,” said Franco, when summing up what he’s seen of Johnstown on tape. “It will be one of the fastest teams we’ve seen in years. In that way, with the playoffs starting next week, a game like this can only benefit us.”
That’s another shift for Franco, who last week let it be known that he, like many other AA and AAA coaches, was not pleased with the idea of playing a Week 10 game that counted nothing towards playoff positioning. Not that Tyrone needed the points. The Eagles, ranked No. 4 in the state, were assured the top seed in Class AA regardless.
Johnstown coach Bob Arcurrio hasn’t shifted his posture. With his Trojans set as the No. 2 seed in next week’s Class AAA playoffs, Arcurrio is none too pleased to be playing when his team could take a bye week to heal.
“We have nothing to gain from it,” Arcurrio said. “It’s not a good situation for either team. If someone would get hurt, we would have a major problem.”
It’s a point especially important to Arcurrio, whose top running back – junior Antwuan Reed – is battling an ankle injury that could limit his playing time tomorrow. Reed has rushed for 1,261 yards on 111 carries, but he re-aggravated his injury in the Trojans’ 20-14 loss last week at Forest Hills.
But Johnstown hasn’t gotten to where it is being a one-trick pony. With or without Reed, the Trojans are dangerous, Franco said.
“Their backup running back is almost as good as their first,” Franco said of Greg Webster, who has 298 yards on 59 carries. “They have two outstanding wide receivers and a defensive end that’s getting Division I offers. They’re awfully good and this will be a good measuring stick for us.”
The Trojans average 25.5 points per game.
The teams that have had success against the Trojans – along with Forest Hills, Bishop McCort beat Johnstown 30-0 – have done it with ball control. McCort ran for 266 yards in its Week 7 win and the Rangers totaled 304 last week. The two schools combined to win the first down battle 42-16.
“Last game, we only had the ball two times in the second half,” Arcurrio said. “Forest Hills has some big, strong kids on its line. If we play good up front, we can control the ball.”
Ball control is one option Franco sees for Tyrone. The Eagles are averaging 239 yards per game on the ground behind thousand-yard running back Johnny Franco (168-1,219) and Tyler Gillmen (81-570).
“That’s one way to beat them and we can do that if we have to, but we’re going to run our offense and try to do the things we normally do,” said Franco.
Both teams can get it done in the air, as well. Tyler Golden leads Tyrone’s passing attack with 933 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, while Brandon Hody fronts Johnstown with 901 yards and five TD passes.
“They have big-time skill people and an explosive offense,” Arcurrio said. “They’re very fundamental coming off the ball also on their offensive line.”
Along with controlling the Trojans’ skill players – two receivers in Demetrius Young and Adonis Jackson who have over 300 receiving yards – Franco sees a major key being his team returning to the brand of football it displayed during a four-week period midway through the season when it scored 30 or more points four straight weeks.
“We got on them pretty hard this week,” Franco said. “I think they realized that we can’t accomplish our goals if we play like that. It’s not the scoring, it’s the effort. It could be a great teaching tool.”
Approach
Franco said Tyrone would not approach the game any differently than any other regular season game, but that there was a chance more players could work into the Eagles’ positional rotations to allow some bruised up players a chance to heal.
Arcurrio said he wasn’t sure how much his top players would play because he saw the game as something close to an exhibition.
“We have to consider the bigger picture, which is the playoffs,” Arcurrio said. “We originally went into this thinking it would count for points.”
Streaks
Tyrone has won its last 11 games against Class AAA opponents dating back to Week 2 of 2003, when the Eagles lost to Huntingdon. That was also the last time they lost a regular season home game.
The Eagles are currently riding a 22-game regular season winning streak, which began following a Week 5 loss to Philipsburg-Osceola in 2004.
Injuries
Franco reported that senior tight end Doug Morrow – a three-year starter who broke his collarbone in the preseason – began light practice this week and could possibly return tomorrow. Morrow will have x-rays taken today to determine his status.
According to Franco, Morrow practiced in pads and participated in light hitting drills involving padded bags and shields.
“That’s a big step,” he said. “He’s getting closer, but each week it’s a game time decision.”
