The Tyrone Golden Eagles used a powerful combination of punishing first half defense and well-balanced offense to dismantle the Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties 58-14 in the District IV Class AAA semi-final game held Friday evening in Tyrone.
The Golden Eagles, backed by two first half passing touchdowns from quarterback Leonard Wilson and three rushing touchdowns, held P-O to less than a yard in the first half to take a 38-0 halftime lead.
Tyrone jumped out early when Wilson connected on a 33-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Tommy Crowl. The next offensive series, Crowl intercepted a Mountie pass and the Golden Eagles drove 55 yards ending with a 9-year touchdown run from Ben Gummo.
Following a bad Mountie snap that cleared the P-O punters head and out of the endzone for a safety, Ben Gummo drove in again, this time from two yards out giving Tyrone an early 24-0 lead.
After linebacker Max Soellner recovered a P-O fumble, running back Mingle scored from 8-yards out. The Golden Eagles finished the scoring rampage with a 34-yard touchdown strike from Wilson to Josh Crabtree to give Tyrone a 38-0 halftime lead.
Tyrone continued the onslaught in the third quarter with touchdown runs from Gummo, his third of the night, and Shane Christine. After three quarters, Tyrone led 51-0.
Philipsburg-Osceola got on the board in the fourth after a 61-yard drive was completed with a 2-yeard touchdown run from fullback Stan Koguc. The score was then 51-7.
Tyrone struck again following a 75-yard drive that was capped with a 47-yard touchdown run by reserve running back Matt Lauder.
Adam White scored the final touchdown of the game with an 8-yard run.
The final score was 58-14.
The win propels coach John Franco’s 10-1 Golden Eagles into the District V-VI Class AA title game next Saturday against the winner of tomorrow’s other semi-final game pitting Forest Hills against Central Cambria. The title game will be held, most likely, Saturday evening at Mansion Park in Altoona. A time will be announced Saturday evening by the PIAA.
Forest Hills has been a nemesis of the Tyrone football program in recent years. Two years ago, the Rangers outlasted Tyrone in the first round of the playoffs with a 29-28 victory.
Last year, Forest Hills knocked out Tyrone in the first round.
Other area games include: Altoona 47 – Central Mountains 6; State College 20 – Hollidaysburg 13; and Bishop Carroll 28 – Bishop Guilfoyle 14.
