Trending
By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
TYRONE -- The Central Scarlet Dragons' football history with the Tyrone Golden Eagles has been chock full of exciting, riveting games that have gone right down to the wire.
Friday night's Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference matchup between the two teams at Tyrone's Gray Veterans Memorial Field certainly followed suit.
In a game that showcased two outstanding senior quarterbacks, Central's Eli Muthler completed 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown, while running for another score, and the Scarlet Dragons' defense came up huge in the fourth quarter as Central eked out a 13-7 victory.
Central senior wideout Jay Hoenstine made eight catches for 137 yards, while Tyrone quarterback Ashton Walk completed 17 of 32 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown.
"We knew that they had a quality quarterback,'' first-year Central coach Jerry Albright said. "We were just hoping to put enough pressure on him and score enough points to win. I didn't think that it would be this much of a defensive struggle.''
Indeed, it was the play of Central's defense that factored just as much in Friday's victory as the Muthler-to-Hoenstine air show.
With Central leading, 13-7 in the fourth quarter, Tyrone drove to the Scarlet Dragons' 17 before Walk's pass to senior wideout Gayge Miller on fourth down and 8 yards to go was broken up in the end zone by Central defender Kaden Horne.
On Tyrone's next possession, the Eagles drove to the 26, before Walk's fourth-and-10 pass to wideout Eli Woomer across the middle was broken up by Central senior cornerback Thaide Mickel during a jarring collision between the two players in the middle of the field.
Earlier in the drive, Mickel had broken up Walk's pass to Woomer in the corner of the end zone.
"Thaide Mickel stepped up for us in the fourth quarter and knocked those passes down,'' Albright said. "He's playing better week in and week out and building his confidence, which helps his defense.''
Central punched in a touchdown with just 28 seconds left in the first half when Muthler found senior tight end Jaxon Detterline with a 14-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to stake the Scarlet Dragons to a 7-0 lead at intermission.
Muthler ran 24 yards up the middle for a touchdown with 8:16 left in the third quarter to put Central (2-1 overall and in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference) ahead, 13-0.
"This was a great team win,'' Muthler said. "Our defense held them to seven points and our offensive line, as well as (senior fullback) Braydon Beach, blocked incredibly well for me on the touchdown run.''
Walk hit senior back Seth Hoover with a 55-yard touchdown pass with 7:22 remaining in the third period, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles (1-2 overall and in the LHAC) could get.
"We had our opportunities in the second half,'' Tyrone coach John Franco said. "I think the difference in the game was that they made some big plays when they had to, and we did not.''
Play of the game: None was bigger than the fourth-down pass breakup by Mickel late in the fourth quarter that preserved the Central lead.
Players of the game: Muthler and Hoenstine shared the honors for Central.
Unsung heroes: Central's defense, led by Mickel, bent but did not break.
Most vital statistic: In an evenly-matched game in which Tyrone compiled 271 total yards to Central's 262, the Scarlet Dragons stalled the two big Tyrone scoring chances at the Central 17 and 26 in the fourth quarter.
Hoenstine: "It was an all-around team effort. Eli (Muthler) played a great game and really put the ball on the money. Tyrone is a great team. They battled, we battled, and we were able to come out on top.''
Notable: Central's victory evened the all-time series between the two schools at 24-24. There have been two ties in the series, which began back in 1970 ... Mickel intercepted a pass and Beach recovered a fumble for Central, while Woomer and Marshall Martin intercepted passes for Tyrone.
Records: Central (2-1); Tyrone (1-2)
Next Friday: Central hosts Bellwood-Antis; Tyrone hosts Bald Eagle Area.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 0 7 6 0--13
Tyrone 0 0 7 0-- 7
Second Quarter
C--Detterline 14 pass from Muthler (Steele kick), :28.
Third Quarter
C--Muthler 24 run (kick failed), 8:16.
T--Hoover 55 pass from Walk (Novak kick), 7:22.
TEAM STATISTICS C TY
First downs 15 14
Total yards 262 271
Rushes-yards 25-45 22-56
Yards passing 217 215
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 17-36-2 17-32-1
Punts/avg. 5-35.4 4-41.3
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 3-25 7-65
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Central, Beach 12-41, Muthler 8-8, Mickel 2-25, Musei 1-(-1). Tyrone, Hoover 14-60, Woomer 1-6, Walk 7-(-10).
PASSING--Central, Muthler 17-36-2-217. Tyrone, Walk 17-32-1-215.
RECEIVING--Central, Hoenstine 8-137, Klotz 3-17, Mickel 2-25, Horn 2-12, Detterline 1-14, Loucks 1-12. Tyrone, Woomer 7-68, Novak 3-22, Hoover 2-60, Miller 2-43, M. Emigh 1-8, Weston 1-8, Moore 1-6.