Game Capsule
Tyrone Golden Eagles (2-3) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders (3-2)
Friday, September 29, 2023
Mansion Park Stadium
SERIES: Tyrone first played Bishop Guilfoyle High School in 1966, winning 32-13. The teams faced each other throughout the rest of the decade and much of the 1970s before the series ended in 1980. It was renewed for four years beginning in 2003 when the Marauders were briefly members of the Mountain Athletic Conference. The Golden Eagles won all four of those games through 2006 and lead the all-time series 8-6.
The most competitive game of the series came in 2003, when the Eagles needed a last second halfback throwback pass from Brice Mertiff to Leonard Wilson to secure a come-from-behind 17-14 victory at Mansion Park.
However, the most entertaining game as a 53-36 shootout the Golden Eagles won in 1978 at what was then called Gray Memorial Field. In that one, Dennis Rozick ran for 308 yards, a single-game record that stood until 2000, when it was broken by Jesse Jones.
COACHES: John Franco (23nd season at Tyrone, 213-58); Justin Wheeler (13th season at Bishop Guilfoyle, 130-35).
LAST TIME OUT: Tyrone – defeated Bellwood-Antis 34-0 in the Backyard Brawl at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field. Ashton Walk completed 14 of 24 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns in a game that was tied 0-0 after the first quarter. Walk ran for the game’s first score to cap a 97-yard drive in the second quarter, and threw touchdown passes to Brady Ronan and Andrew Weaver to make it a 3-touchdown game by halftime.
Weaver had a career-high 139 yards on 7 receptions. Tyrone’s defense limited the Devils to under 100 yards in total offense.
Bishop Guilfoyle – lost to Central 10-7 in Spring Cove. The game was tied 7-7 at the end of regulation before Hunter Smith kicked the field goal in overtime to help the Dragons remain undefeated.
Chase Kissell completed 17 of 31 passes for 222 yards and Hamilton Gates ran for a third-quarter touchdown that tied the game at 7-7.
Eli Muthler completed 12 of 25 passes for 128 yards for the Dragons, but he also threw a pair of interceptions.
LAST MEETING: Johnny Franco and Tyler Gillmen provided the 1-2 rushing punch for the Golden Eagles in a 42-0 victory at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field on Friday, October 13, 2006.
Franco scored two touchdowns, including a 97-yard score in the third quarter, finishing with 168 yards on 12 carries. Gillmen, meanwhile, scored three times and rushed for 109 yards on 10 carries.
Tyrone led 7-0 after a 16-yard touchdown by Franco in the first quarter before the Eagles exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter to start the mercy rule.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Tyrone – Ashton Walk, QB (61-113-1024, 9 TDs, 6 Ints.); Brady Ronan, RB-DB (27-272, 13 receptions for 253 yards, 5 TDs); Braden Ewing, OL-DL (5 TFL); Seth Hoover, RB-DB (31-108, 9 receptions for 86 yards); Eli Woomer, WR-DB (10 receptions for 226 yards, 1 Int.); Andrew Weaver, WR-DE (18 receptions for 317 yards, 7.5 TFL, 5 sacks); Austin Lucas, FB-LB (3 TFL). Bishop Guilfoyle – Chase Kissell, QB-DB (62-90-826, 9 TD, 5 Int. 40 carries for 189 yards); Ryan Hagg, RB-DB, 41-325, 3 TDs); Kaden Wyandt, RB-LB (44-268, 5 TDs, 11 TFL); Braden Reilly, WR-DB (19-323, 4 TDs); Hamilton Gates, WR-DB (12 carries for 133 yards, 10 receptions for 187 yards); Chris Kozminski, OL-DE (4 TFL, 5.5 sacks).
NOTES: Tyrone’s last win at Mansion Park was in 2014 … the Eagles’ last win vs. a parochial school was against Bishop Carroll in 2019 (28-20).
ORANGE AND BLACK 