The Bellefonte Red Raiders were a bit of a mystery this time one year ago.
The 2023 campaign, when Bellefonte finished 2-9 under first-year coach Tony Confer, wasn’t anything to get excited about, but it was clear there was something there.
That much was evident in Week 1 of 2024, when the Raiders traveled to Roaring Spring and shut down a talented Central offense in an eye-opening 18-7 victory over the Scarlet Dragons.
Few saw it coming, but it wasn’t surprising when you looked at the staff Confer had assembled around him. Shannon Manning, arguably the best coach the school has seen since the days of Tom Gravish in the 90s, was back working the defense. Matt Massullo was there to set the offense. And there was enough experienced talent to make some moves.
That first game against Central set the tone for how the season would go. During a 7-4 season that ended with a loss to Juniata in the District 6 4A title game, the Raiders would win with defense. In their seven victories, they allowed more than two touchdowns just two times and yielded more than 20 points only once.
Tyrone coach John Franco expects to be greeted with that same stout defensive effort from Bellefonte Friday when the Golden Eagles travel to Rogers Stadium to face the Raiders in the season opener.
“Their defense is really tough. It always is,” Franco said. “Last year when we scrimmaged them, we had one nice drive on them, and then we couldn’t do anything the rest of the scrimmage, although we played them well defensively. We had two pick-sixes for touchdowns. They’re always built on defense and that looks like the thing this year.”
The Eagles will be facing Bellefonte with a look on offense unlike anything they’ve had since 2019 and 2020 when the starter was Brandon Lucas, who was a true dual threat quarterback.. Lucas gave way to Ashton Walk, and while Walk was a capable runner, his strength was throwing the football, as evidenced by his 8,000-yard passing career over four seasons.
The snaps will now go to senior Eli Woomer, which will make the offense much different from a season ago, when Tyrone finished 7-5 and played in the 3A championship game. Woomer was Tyrone’s second-leading receiver last season and is one of only nine receivers in school history to go over 1,000 yards for his career.
“Eli is a heck of an athlete,” said Franco. “He gives us a different dimension from Ashton. Ashton was a great passer, with great accuracy. Eli is more of an athletic quarterback. He’s going to run the ball, but I’ve been really impressed with his passing ability this summer in 7-on-7s and the first couple weeks of camp. I guarantee you he is going to get better and better every week.’
Woomer will have the benefit of a strong and experienced offensive line providing protection. That group includes tackles Caden Harris and Owen Oakes, guards Lucas Bonsell and John Stanton, and center Kayden Ansman. Ansman, Oakes, and Bonsell all started last season, while Stanton was a starter as a sophomore before missing 2024 with a knee injury. Harris was a defensive starter last season.
Franco is confident in the group’s potential to pick up where it left off a season ago, when it paved the way for Seth Hoover to enjoy a 1,000-yard rushing season, and he’s intrigued by the matchup against the Raiders’ line, which he said is a strength for them, as well.
Offensively, Bellefonte will be rebuilding in a manner similar to the Eagles. In 2024, they were led by Liam Halterman, a dynamic quarterback who threw for over 1,100 yards and ran for 646, having a hand in 22 touchdowns.
But while the Raiders will be testing out a new signal-caller, they still have a talented stable of backs, including senor Isaac Gall and junior Ka’ven Smith-kirk, who combined last season for more than 700 yards and 5 touchdowns. On the offensive line, Bellefonte returns three starters, all of whom tip the scales at 235 pounds or more.
If there’s an advantage to be had, it could be in Tyrone’s depth at skill positions and experience on defense. At running back, Caleb Whitby waited his turn behind Hoover last season but is poised for a breakout season. H-back Marshall Martin and wide receiver Ashton Emigh both return as starters from 2024, while receiver Mason Emigh is back after working into the receiver rotation.
On defense, the Eagles return seven starters including tackle Kolsen Moore and defensive end Kyler Suhoney, linebackers Ashton Emigh, Martin and Oakes, and defensive backs Mason Emigh and Woomer.
Franco said he expects a highly competitive game on Friday, but he said he told his team he would like to get off to a fast start this season. Tyrone opened 2023 by going 1-3 in its first four games and was 2-4 after six weeks in 2024.
Each season, the team made late pushes down the stretch to make the playoffs, but Franco said he would like to it would be nice to get started a little earlier.
“Let’s get on a roll early so that so we can have a steadier build,” he said. “We’ve really worked at trying to get off to a fast start this year.”
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