Last week, Tyrone coach Jason Jones got his first win as the Golden Eagles’ head coach when his team found a way to squeak past Bellefonte.
In Week 2, he got his first blowout when the Eagles steamrolled Westmont Hilltop 34-7 at Windber Stadium.
Tyrone quadrupled its offensive production from Week 1 and never let off the gas on defense, holding a second straight opponent to a single score.
The win sets up an early-season game-to-watch this Friday when the 2-0 Golden Eagles host 2-0 Central in an LHAC East 1 showdown.
Here are four takeaways from the game.
FIRST DOWN: Feeding Emigh
Pittsburgh Penguins legend Mario Lemieux did a lot of things during his Hall of Fame career that may never be duplicated, but one of the most exciting was the night he scored five goals in five different ways against New Jersey in 1988.
in an 8-6 victory, Lemieux had even strength and power play goals; he scored short-handed and on a penalty shot. He also added an empty-netter in a performance that fueled the debate of just who was the greatest player in the NHL – Lemieux or Gretzky?
Mason Emigh had a similar performance against Westmont Hilltop, although he probably needed another touchdown or two to completely equal the original.
Starting with a second quarter interception he returned 20 yards for a touchdown, Emigh scored three touchdowns in three different ways to help spearhead the lopsided win.
After that, Emigh scored before halftime on a 42-yard run and then closed things out for the Eagles in the third with a 10-yard touchdown reception.
A special teams touchdown could have more neatly closed the comparison with Lemieux, but the point remains the same: Emigh can burn you in a number of ways, and while getting him touches will always be a priority of Tyrone’s offense, it’s not necessary for the Eagles to force anything because the really good ones find ways within the flow of the game.
With four touchdowns in the first two games, Emigh is showing he’s one of those really good ones.
SECOND DOWN: Supporting cast
Emigh’s talent is bound to draw plenty of attention from defensive coordinators preparing for Tyrone, and that in turn should provide opportunities for the Eagles’ other receivers to make some nose.
Against the Hilltoppers, that’s exactly how things played out, and the Eagles’ receiving corps began to show its depth for the first time this season.
Jon Stroup extended an early drive with a 22-yard reception on fourth down, and later Jesse Parks got his first touchdown reception of the season with a 1-yard catch that made it 6-0. A later touchdown reception from Parks was nullified after Tyrone was flagged for an ineligible receiver downfield.
Carter Gwinn alone ended up with 4 receptions for 33 yards.
Emigh still managed to lead the team in receiving yards with 44, but it was a good sign for Jones’ offense that other receivers began getting involved.
THIRD DOWN: Third downs
Another area where Tyrone excelled against the Hilltoppers – one that more often than not led directly to points – was its ability to move the chains on late downs.
On third down alone, the Golden Eagles converted first downs on 7 of 13 opportunities, a rate of 53.8% that any coach would take any day.
Beyond that was Tyrone’s success on fourth down, where the conversion rate rose to 75% (3 out of 4).
Tyrone’s first fourth down conversion – the long pass to Stroup – set up a touchdown, while two other scores came on third down plays.
Jones took his team’s performance on third and fourth downs as a sign that the offense is beginning to come together.
“I was happy with that. On third-and-four, there’s still a good chance we’re running the ball,” he said. “We stayed in our two-back set tonight quite a bit and went through some other things. I just like that we are gelling a little bit. It’s not where I want it yet. I know it’s not where the staff wants it. But our guys are buying into that we have to get tough and we have to get physical. Part of that showed tonight. Can we carry it in to next week is the big question.”
FOURTH DOWN: Tough night in Johnstown
The Laurel Highlands crossover schedule has East and West teams hosting games in alternating years, and this year in Week 2 East 1 teams headed to the West.
Generally speaking, it was a tough night to be a football player from the flood city.
Along with Tyrone’s win over the Hilltoppers, Central dominated Greater Johnstown 44-0 and Bellwood-Antis toppled Bishop McCort 33-6. While the Eagles’ game was moved to nearby Windber due to a power outage, the other two took place right inside the city limits, at Johnstown High and Point Stadium, respectively.
The one Johnstown team to get a win – and it was a big one – was suburban power Richland, which dealt Bishop Guilfoyle a 21-16 loss.
Outside of the Greater Johnstown area, Huntingdon helped East 1 teams to finish 4-1 against West 1 schools with a 28-14 win over Somerset.
In another crossover game involving a Johnstown area team, West 2 school Forest Hills lost in Bellefonte to the East 2 Raiders 28-21.
Teams will now begin digging into divisional play, and for Tyrone that means the next five games will be against schools from the East, and four of those games will be East 1. Their next crossover game comes in Week 8 when the Eagles host Penn Cambria.
ORANGE AND BLACK 