In a game that showed more defense than offense from both schools, the Tyrone junior varsity was able to take the second-half challenge issued by their coach and run away from the Bellwood-Antis juniors 19-6 at Gray Vets Memorial Field in the opening game of the season for both teams.
The two squads combined for just a total of a little over 100 yards total offense during the first two quarters. Each team had just one sustained drive. The junior Blue Devils from their own 20 to the Tyrone-34 just before the halftime intermission, but Tyrone defensive lineman Nicholas Wilson personally stopped the drive for the Golden Eagles with back-to-back quarterback sacks that handed the Orange and Black the ball at midfield.
The Eagles used a 57-yard drive, the second time they got the ball with quarterback Tyler Golden scrambling eight yards for the lone touchdown of the half. Golden connected with Russell Beck for the only pass of the drive for 18 yards and also had another 10 yards gain during the march that picked up a first down. Joshua Bradley toted the ball six times in the series for 24 yards. Shayne Tate booted the PAT.
Both teams were hurt by penalties that stopped themselves or helped the other.
“The second half, we challenged them at halftime to come out and take control of the offense,” said Tyrone coach Darren Elvey. “We needed to get some drives going and they did. We had two good second-half drives and I can’t say enough about the defense.”
Bellwood-Antis received the kick to begin the third quarter. Brandon Eger broke loose for a 15-yard gain on first down, but the Blue Devils could muster only three yards in the following three plays and had to give up the football.
After stopping B-A and taking the ball at the BA-44, Tyrone drove the distance in 10 plays for the score. Golden passed to Donnie Conrad for a bakers dozen 13 yards and a first down, Bradley contributed 21 yards and Shayne Tate scored the one-yard TD.
The Little Blue Devils’ Danny Campbell returned the kick 12 yards to midfield and then ripped off a 13-yard gain on the first call from scrimmage, but again the Tyrone “D” held and got the ball back at their own 31.
Tate rambled 24 yards to match the number on his back to jumpstart the Eagles next drive and Bradley capped the drive with a one-yard smash.
Down 19-0, with just under four minutes to play in the game, Bellwood-Antis finally was able to put a drive together.
With Alan Wertz at quarterback, the Blue Devils drove 72 yards in eight plays for their sole score. Campbell went 15 on the opening play and Eger rambled 17 yards for a first down several plays later. Wertz hit three-of-four for 38 yards, including Justin Miller for a pickup of 12 and Dustin Pruznak for 20 and the TD.
“Tyrone’s got some hitters,” said Bellwood-Antis coach Randy Miller. “It seemed like we weren’t ready to play. I don’t know why, but they were ready for tonight and we weren’t. We will just have to regroup for next week.”
Tate rushed 17 times for 73 yards and Bradley added 56 yards on 15 carries for the Eagles. Golden completed three of six passes for 40 yards.
For the Blue Devils, Eger carried 10 times for 55 yards, while Campbell had six carries for 32 yards, three for 30 in the second half. Wertz had three of four for 38 and one score, while Evan Hughes connected on five of nine for 17 yards.
The Tyrone junior varsity (1-0) travels to Huntingdon on Monday night, Sept. 12, while Bellwood-Antis hosts Penns Valley on the same date. The kickoff for both games is set for 6 p.m.
