Things went south quickly for Tyrone a week ago in the Eagles’ 37-14 mercy rule loss to Bellwood-Antis in the Backyard Brawl.
B-A was already flexing its muscles after scoring 14 points in the first quarter, but three turnovers by the Golden Eagles in the second completely changed the complexion of the game. The Blue Devils capitalized on every miscue and had scored all 37 of their points by intermission.
That kind of collapse doesn’t sit well with a coach as competitive as Tyrone’s Jason Jones, and he’s gotten the same vibe from his team this week as it prepares for the toughest games during the toughest portion of their schedule.
“The way we’ve practiced this week and what we’ve been able to take from that game, it might have been something that was needed in this program to get us refocused and back on track,” said Jones.
The 3-2 Golden Eagles will host 4-1 Bishop Guilfoyle on Friday in a Laurel Highlands East 1 game at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field. It’s Homecoming in Tyrone, but for the Golden Eagles, it’s an opportunity to show they’re not the same team that was on the turf at Memorial Stadium last week.
“For us, it’s about getting back on track,” Jones said. “Bellwood beat us, and they earned, but we’re not 37-14 worse than them. We had a very rough game and a bad quarter-and-a-half that spiraled into a running clock by halftime. I credit the seniors and leadership for bouncing back this week. Adversity is going to hit, and if you allow it to affect you week in and week out, you’re never going to be successful.”
Guilfoyle comes into the game 4-1, their only loss coming in a Laurel Highlands crossover game in Week 2 to defending District 6 2A champion Richland. Since then, the Marauders, who lost in the PIAA 1A title game a year ago, have looked like a team on a mission, winning three in a row and outscoring their opponents 119-7.
Most recently, they exploded for 29 points in the fourth quarter to down undefeated Central 42-7 last Friday.
“We know they’re a really good team,” Jones said. “We saw what they did to Central. It’s no secret – nobody is giving us a shot, and we’re using that as motivation.”
The Marauders have been transparent about how they plan to go about their business. Along with a stifling defense that brings pressure and gangs up on the run, BG has focused its offense on the talents of a pair of underclassmen who together account for 88 percent of the team’s offensive production.
Much of that comes from all-purpose athlete Justin Wheeler, a true triple threat who leads the team in two offensive categories and is No. 2 in another. Wheeler has completed 36 of 54 passes for 462 yards and a pair of touchdowns, run for 532 yards and 11 touchdowns, and caught 7 passes for 156 yards and another score. There’s not much the kid can’t do (as is evidenced by his five interceptions when he plays defense), but if ever a team would find a way to limit his effectiveness, the Marauders can still turn to sophomore running back Keegan Hewitt.
Averaging over 6 yards per carry, Hewitt has run for 419 yards and 8 touchdowns while catching 2 passes for 33 yards.
In all that’s 1,602 of BG’s 1,821 yards.
That means if stopping the Marauders’ two-headed monster was easy, someone would have done it by now, because it’s rarely a secret where the ball is going.
But as impressive as Guilfoyle’s offense is its defense, which has smothered teams for 45 tackles for loss and 18 sacks. The Marauders are led on that side of the ball by linemen Rocco Cacciotti and Declan Peterson, who have combined for 19 tackles for loss and 8 sacks.
BG puts pressure on its opponents from all corners, and Jones is well aware of the task his team faces.
“They use their athletes very well,” Jones observed. “We know how good Wheeler and Hewitt are. We have to limit their playmakers. They love to run the ball and get in space. That’s what we’ve got to try to take away from them.”
For the Eagles, the game will be about getting its offense on track for the first time this season. While the Eagles are averaging 238 yards per game, they’ve yet to establish consistency in their game, and they’ve struggled extending and finishing drives.
“Offensively last week, we didn’t do anything to help our defense,” said Jones. “Against a good team, you have to be competent enough offensively to move the ball. We had our defense on the wrong side of the field the majority of the first half.”
First-year starter Ben Walk struggled through his toughest game of the season a week ago, when he went 4-for-14 against the Devils for 100 yards and a touchdown. For the season, he has completed 34 of 79 passes for 507 yards with 7 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions.
Walk’s favorite target has been more than reliable. Mason Emigh leads the team with 19 receptions for 405 yards and 6 touchdowns, but against a defense like Guilfoyle’s he will need some help from other receivers like Jon Stroup, Jesse Parks, and Carter Gwinn. That group has combined for 15 catches and 111 yards.
Despite losing top rusher Caleb Whitby for the season two weeks ago, the Golden Eagles have found success in their running game behind sophomore Reid Starr, who has run for 265 yards on 66 carries, and has had consecutive games of 97 and 83 yards.
