It’s been a while since there was any sense of mystery surrounding the quarterback position at Tyrone.
Even during the earliest days of John Franco’s second tenure at Tyrone, which began in 2019, quarterback was a position that was essentially set from the get-go. That first season and the one that followed, it was going to be Brandon Lucas.
In 2021, Keegan Gwinn was set to be the man, and he did begin the season that way, but before the season ended he gave way to Ashton Walk, who spent the last four seasons redefining the quarterback position at Tyrone and setting records for passing and total offense left and right.
As camp began this past week, it wasn’t like you needed Sherlock Holmes to determine who would be taking snaps this fall, but that feeling of certainty in the most important offensive position was different than it had been in several years.
What Franco has determined is that it will be senior Eli Woomer calling the shots this season, and he satisfied that it’s the choice that gives the Eagles their best chance at success.
“Eli has waited his turn,” Franco said. “He’s been the backup for years, even though he’s been one of the best receivers in the area. No matter where we play him, he’s going to excel, and he’s looked very good this summer.”
Woomer and the Eagles had plenty of chances to try out their new look in June and July at their 7-on-7 passing league. The spot essentially came down to Woomer or junior Ben Walk, Ashton’s younger brother, who played very well at quarterback last season on the junior varsity team. But instead of throwing passes this season, Ben Walk will be catching them as the team’s tight end.
Woomer has been one of Tyrone’s best offensive weapons since he was a sophomore. In fact, last year he led the team in receptions (53) while finishing second in receiving yards (811) to Trent Adams. In just two seasons, he became one of only nine receivers at Tyrone to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, and had be merely equaled his productivity from last season he would have joined a group with 2,000 career receiving yards, one that includes only Nick Patton and Damon Gripp.
But he’s also one of the top athletes in the school, which made placing him at quarterback a no-brainer for Franco.
He’s been the backup for years, even though he’s been one of the best receivers in the area. No matter where we play him, he’s going to excel, and he’s looked very good this summer.
Coach John Franco on Eli Woomer
Woomer will certainly give Tyrone a different look from the one they’ve had the past four seasons with Ashton Walk leading the offense. While Walk was a capable runner who could get yards with his feet when needed, he was at heart a mobile passer. Of the record 8,548 yards he accumulated in his career, 8,074 were through the air.
Woomer, on the other hand, is an exceptional runner, much more along the lines of Lucas in 2019 and 2020, so it will be interesting to see how that component figures into the team’s plans.
“We think he’s the best we have at this point,” Franco said.
The one concern with placing an athlete like Woomer, who hasn’t taken a snap since some mop-up duty against Central in 2023, is the question of just who will be catching the passes now.
Franco has two very good options there, and both have experience on their side. Senior Ashton Emigh has started for two seasons, emerging last year as a reliable tight end, while Mason Emigh parlayed his performance in Tyrone’s defensive backfield into a role as a receiver in the rotation. Both players finished with 10 receptions.
Outside of those three, with Woomer included in that mix, every receiver that caught a pass for Walk during his record-breaking 3,000-yard season in 2024 graduated, so that area of the team will be a work in progress.
Among the players who could also take prominent roles as receivers along with the Emighs, Franco listed senior Braden Parson, and sophomores Colton Fry and John Stroup. He also noted that Walk has been outstanding in the preseason at tight end.
“It’s an interesting comparison to last year when we had all the skill players back but our line wasn’t as strong,” Franco.
This season, Franco said, the offensive line is a definite strength, with virtually every starter returning. The unit is also as big a line group as Tyrone has had in years. That will make the job of projected top running back Caleb Whitby much easier.
Formal conditioning for Tyrone began the last week of July. The Eagles continued with conditioning and offensive/defensive installation starting last Monday and continuing throughout the week.
They will scrimmage Clearfield August 16 before opening the campaign August 22 at Bellefonte.
ORANGE AND BLACK 