He had been practicing since his name was drawn at halftime of the Tyrone – Lewistown game. Sinking Valley resident Dan Sprankle had his shot to win a new car in the Punt, Pass and Kick contest held after the Tyrone – Pius X game on Saturday night.
Sprankle’s name was drawn from the four finalists, Dave McCahan, Irv Fink and George Gripp.
The contest was sponsored by The Daily Herald, Stultz and Brown Ford Mercury and WTRN.
As Sprankle started his shot at a car, the crowd gave him a nice ovation.
The goal was to punt, pass and kick from the back end of one endzone to the other. If the field goal was made, Sprankle was to drive away in a new $20,000 car from Stultz and Brown.
His punt traveled 30 yards. The pass traveled 32 yards to set up a 57 yard field goal for the car.
Before the field goal attempt, Gray Field public address announcer Gary McGovern announced that he would buy Sprankle a car if he would kick me through the uprights, which got a good laugh from the crowd.
Sprankle lined up for the field goal, which would have been a Gray Field record, but the kick came up about 20 yards short.
“Harlow gave me a right handed football and I am left handed,” Sprankle said after his try for the car. “The hold was crooked as well.”
Yes, I was the holder.
“We were thrilled to be able to bring some more fun to the football season and be able to help the YMCA at the same time,” said Daily Herald General Manager Chris Lash. “Mr. Sprankle was fun on the field as well. I want to personally thank Tony Yaniello and the School District, Stultz and Brown Ford Mercury, and Cary Simpson from WTRN radio for making it all happen.”
If Sprankle had won, he announced he was giving the car to his girlfriend Janet Smith.
“I was glad to take part and do what I can to help the YMCA,” said Sprankle. “It was a fun contest and I had practiced a lot, but I blame Harlow for me not driving a car home.”
The Daily Herald hopes that this will be the first of many chances for someone to win a car at Tyrone football games. We thank those who filled out registration forms, and thank you for your support of the Tyrone YMCA.
