Westmont Hilltop (0-1) at Tyrone (0-1)
Gray-Veterans Memorial Field
Friday, September 29, 2025
Last Time Out: TYRONE – lost at Bellefonte 21-20 on a Jackson Long touchdown reception with 21 seconds to play. Tyrone had led most of the game and was up 20-7 in the fourth quarter, but a late touchdown followed by an onsides kick had the Eagles on their heels. On Bellefonte’s final drive, the Eagles were flagged for pass interference and a facemask penalty. Outside of the quirky ending, Tyrone played well. Quarterback Eli Woomer completed 12 of 20 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown in his first start, and Tyrone’s defense stopped 14 plays behind the line of scrimmage, including three sacks. WESTMONT HILLTOP – lost 42-13 to Forest Hills in Johnstown. The Rangers led 14-7 after the first quarter and 35-13 by halftime. Forest Hills totaled 329 yards of total offense, including 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air from Xander Richardson. Justin Ray completed 14 of 27 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown for the Hilltoppers.
Series: Tyrone and Westmont Hilltop first squared off 1996 in the District 6 2A semifinals at then Gray Memorial Field. Tyrone won 21-6 thanks to a pair of touchdown receptions by Andy Woomer and went on to win the championship the following week. Since then, the teams have played three more times including 1997, 2000, and 2007, with each game coming in the postseason. The 1997 game was a 42-18 victory for the Eagles in the District 6 finals. Perhaps the most exciting game came in the 2000 semifinals in Johnstown when Tyrone, playing with an injured Jesse Jones, defeated the No. 2-seed Hilltoppers 14-0, aided by three interceptions from Jerry Wilson. Tyrone has won all four games in the series.
Coaches: TYRONE – John Franco (224-66 in 24 seasons at Tyrone; 285-149-2 overall); WESTMONT HILLTOP – Josh Rearick (0-1)
Last Meeting: In a steady, cold rain that turned to snowflakes by the second half, Tyrone jumped to an early lead and turned the game over to its defense in a 14-0 victory over Westmont in the District 6 2A quarterfinals at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field on November 10, 2007.
Johnny Shaffer got Tyrone on the board with a 6-yard touchdown reception from Levi Reihart in the first quarter, and Shayne Tate capped a 95-yard drive with a 5-yard run in the second. Tyrone’s defense then took control, recording its fourth shutout of the season.
The Golden Eagles’ pass defense was the deciding factor, snagging 6 interceptions, including two each from Tate and Ben Ingle, along with sacks of Hilltopper quarterback Josh Swick by Shaffer and Jesse Walk. Tate also ran for 116 yards on 26 carries.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: TYRONE – Eli Woomer (QB-DB) 12-for-20, 229 yards, 1 TD … Caleb Whitby (RB-DB) 12 carries for 21 yards, TD … Ashton Emigh (RB-LB) 5 carries for 14 yards, TD, 2 receptions for 22 yards, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack … Brayden Parsons, (WR-DB) 2 receptions for 23 yards … John Stroup (WR-LB) 3 receptions for 49 yards … Owen Oakes (OL-LB) 1 sack … Kyler Suhoney (OL-DE) 1.5 TFL, 1 sack … Mason Emigh (WR-DB) 1 receptions for 80 yards, TD, 1 Int. WESTMONT HILLOP – Justin Ray (QB-LB) 14-for-27, 120 yards, 1 TD … Bryce Goodman (RB-DE) 9 carries for 94 yards, TD, 1 reception for 15 yards, TD, 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack … Derek Gartner (WR-DB) 6 receptions for 55 yards … Connor Gorman (OL-DL) 6 tackles … Caleb Johnson (RB-LB) 6 tackles … Tyler Galiote (RB-DB) 2 receptions for 17 yards, 6 tackles.
TYRONE – is 0-1 for the third straight season … QB Eli Woomer completed 3 passes for at least 34 yards in the opener … flagged four times in the fourth quarter against Bellefonte … K Tytus Novak averaged 50 yards per kickoff against the Raiders.
WESTMONT HILLTOP – Allowed 4 rushing touchdowns against Forest Hills … opened its passing game under new coach Josh Rearick to throw for 121 yards against the Rangers after averaging 42.6 passing yards per game in 2024 … all yards in Week 1 were produced by underclassmen.
Hidden Stat: The Hilltoppers passed 27 times in Week 1. In 2024, they passed the ball 71 times and completed 24.
ORANGE AND BLACK 