Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

After going on the road for two games and losing both, the Golden Eagles needed a win Monday evening when they hosted West Branch. When time had finally expired on the back and forth game, Tyrone had come out on top 22-21.
The Golden Eagles came out fired up, with Jason Wilson returning the opening kick-off out to his own 46 yard line. Tyrone went down the field, but came up a yard short on a fourth and goal from the eight. West Branch immediately gave the ball up by fumbling the first of four times on the night, and Bill Schreckengost plunged into the end zone on a QB sneak to draw first blood for Tyrone. Matt Wheland’s extra point kick was good, and Tyrone was up 7-0 early.
West Branch got the ball on their own 44 and proceeded to brandish a tough, grind it out running game. The Warriors pounded their way down the field and into the end zone, evening the score at 7 a piece.
The Warriors utilized an unforgiving defense against the Eagles all night, but couldn’t seem to hang on to the football offensively. West Branch sandwiched a fumble between two defensive stands and the Warriors took the ball at their own 19 with just under five minutes to play in the first half. The visitors didn’t wait long to score again, when running back Tim Tice took a handoff into the Tyrone secondary and galloped 81 yards to put the Warriors on top 13-7.
Neither team was able to find the end zone again until the middle of the third quarter, when Tyrone running back Shane Christine helped march the Eagles down the field and evened the score at 13 all with a one-yard touchdown run. Wheland’s all important extra point, which eventually turned out to be the most important play of the game, put the Golden Eagles ahead 14-13.
“We told them at halftime to give us two good quarters and to play Tyrone tough football,” said head coach Chuck Banas.
West Branch came right back, moving the ball 63 yards on an impressive 11 play drive. Quarterback Nate Owens scored on a 4 yard sneak but the extra point kick was no good.
After dropping two straight games to tough teams, the Golden Eagles were determined to deliver at the end of the game. Christine shouldered the load for Tyrone on their ensuing drive, rushing four straight times to get into Warrior territory. Perhaps the only thing more valuable than his 100 yard rushing game was his fifty passing yards, 46 of which came on the next play. Christine took a pitch from Schreckengost, suckered the defensive backs in, and then fired a pass to Jeremy Myers who scored without a defender in sight.
The Golden Eagles elected to go for two, and succeeded when Schreckengost hit Wilson on a wide receiver screen. However, the best of the action was still to come in the last ten minutes of play. West Branch yielded two straight penalties on the kick off; one an offsides and the other an unsportsmanlike conduct called against a coach. The Warriors set up shop at their own 15 after Tyrone kicked off from the opposing 40. Things got bad for West Branch when after a three and out, the punter was only able to get the kick out to his own 19 after the snap sailed over his head.
The Warriors didn’t quit, picking off Schreckengost and returning the ball across midfield to Tyrone’s 38. The Warriors fumbled again, however, and Tyrone recovered. The Golden Eagles were backed up on their own 13 and, after several penalties and unsuccessful running plays, elected to take a safety. Schreckengost lined up as the punter, but wisely ate up as much time as possible before stepping out of the back of the end zone. The Warriors were left with inadequate time to score and Tyrone was able to celebrate a win for the first time in three weeks.
Banas said of his team after the game, “They’re young, and they’re learning. I’m proud of them.”
Next Monday Tyrone will try to continue their success when they travel to Bishop Guilfoyle.

By Rick