Tyrone’s football record book grew in 2022, with players climbing the charts and etching their names beside some of the Golden Eagles’ top all-time players.
Most of the movement was made in Tyrone’s passing game, which under sophomore Ashton Walk continued on the upward trajectory it took after Walk was inserted as the starter late in his freshman season. But other players climbed the charts, as well, during the Eagles most successful season in terms of wins since 2015.
Here’s a breakdown of the additions to the Tyrone Golden Eagles’ record book from 2022.
OFFENSE
After a stellar freshman season where he passed for 1,248 yards in only four official starts, Walk was going to be the focal point of Tyrone’s offense in 2022, and his steady play as the full-time signal caller was a major factor in the Eagles’ success.
Walk threw for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season, making him one of seven quarterbacks at Tyrone to reach the millennium mark more than once.
In total, Walk completed 133 of 249 passes for 1,653 yards and 22 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions. It was the fifth most yards in a single season for a Tyrone passer, and his 22 touchdowns are third behind Stevie Franco (30 in 2011) and Drew Hunter (23 in 2015).
Walk’s completions and attempts are second only to Franco’s 2011 campaign, and they contributed to career numbers (222 completions and 401 attempts) that rank fourth.
With 2,901 passing yards over two season, Walk ranks fifth all time, one yard ahead of Tyler Mertiff (1999-2002) and 45 behind Brandon Lucas (2018-2020).
Walk’s 261 passing yards in a 41-28 victory over Hollidaysburg in Week 9 ranks fifth for a single game, tied with the 261 Franco had against Huntingdon in 2011.
Walk’s top receiver was senior Ross Gampe, who pulled in 36 passes for 547 yards and 8 touchdowns. That was good enough to give Gampe 961 receiving yards in three seasons as a starter, which places him in the top 10 among Tyrone receivers at No. 8, four yards ahead of Justin Schopp (957 from 2004-2006). Gampe’s 8 touchdown receptions are tied for eighth place all-time, and his career total of 13 is the fifth most, tied with Steve Johnson (1997-99).
DEFENSE
Early in the season, Tyrone coach John Franco compared junior Braden Ewing quite favorably to Terry Tate, who as a senior defensive tackle in 2004 was named the Pennsylvania Football News Defensive Player of the Year. For his part, Ewing said he was flattered by the comparison, but that he wanted to exceed Tate, who has been one of Ewing’s mentors as a wrestler.
In a dominant season on the defensive line, Ewing at least matched his coach, registering 21 tackles for loss to equal the number Tate recorded in 2004. That’s the fourth best number for a single season in program history.
The defensive backfield was billed as a strength early on, and the Eagles’ DBs lived up to the hype, coming away with 13 interceptions. Tops among the unit was junior Dravyn Crowell, who led the team with 5, which is tied for seventh all time.
COACHING
With most records already bearing his name, Coach Franco can only build on the legacy he’s living, but in 2022 he added to his program record for career wins, and he now possesses a career record of 211-56. He also added a season to his record for longest tenure, which will reach 23 years when the Eagles take the field next fall.
ORANGE AND BLACK 
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