Tyrone-Philipsburg-Osceola Capsule

Game at a glance

TYRONE GOLDEN EAGLES (2-0, 0-0) VS. PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA MOUNTIES (1-1, 0-1)

Friday, September 9, 2022

Gray-Veterans Memorial Field, Tyrone

SERIES: This week’s game marks the 70th meeting between the two schools. The Golden Eagles first began playing Philipsburg High School in 1923 when the teams battled to a 20-20 tie. The schools played again the following season but afterwards took a hiatus until 1927. The Eagles and Mounties then faced each other every season through 1954. Around the same time, Osceola Mills appeared on Tyrone’s schedule in 1927 and was there more or less every season until 1953. In 1955, Philipsburg and Osceola Mills consolidated and the Mounties have been on the Eagles’ yearly docket every season since.

Tyrone leads the all-time series with P-O with 43 wins and 26 losses, with three games coming in the District 6 playoffs. The Eagles topped P-O 14-7 in the 3A semifinals in 1986 before winning in the 2A semifinals in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004.

As one might expect from a rivalry that dates back to the second decade of the 20th century, the series features some of the top games in school history. In 1987, the Mounties and Eagles were tied 7-7 late in the fourth quarter before Tyrone stole a Homecoming victory on a last-second touchdown pass from Bob Mertiff to Bill Kimberling. In 2004, P-O defeated the Eagles 7-6 in Philipsburg, blocking a PAT after a Tyrone touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal an upset win.

In 2008, Tyrone established a new regular season winning streak of 30 consecutive games by rallying on their final drive to win on a halfback throwback pass from Shayne Tate to Levi Reihart.

The Mounties’ win in ’04 is the last time P-O defeated Tyrone, which is riding an 18-game winning streak in the series.