Tyrone-Central football has gravitas in Week 3
H.S. football
Albright
Franco
Albright
Franco
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If the District 6 Class 3A high school football playoffs started today, two teams that have become a staple of that classification would be absent -- and they are meeting tonight in Roaring Spring.
Central, which lost in the semifinals last year after winning four straight championships, hosts Tyrone, which led champion Penn Cambria at halftime of last year's title game at 7 p.m. in what could turn out to be a critical early-season game.
There are six teams in the classification. Four make the postseason, and Penn Cambria, Forest Hills, Huntingdon and Philipsburg-Osceola have all started 2-0 while Tyrone and Central stand at 1-1.
"I don't think I'd call it a critical game," Tyrone coach John Franco said. "But there are a lot of good teams, and I don't think anyone is going to go undefeated. You have to just keep going and accumulate wins and hope you are in the mix when it gets to the end of the year."
Both teams did that last week with bounce-back victories after opening the season with losses. Central edged Johnstown while Tyrone trounced Westmont Hilltop.
"We played with so much confidence in the second half," Central coach Jerry Albright said. "We were able to have a 19-play and 14-play drive without putting the ball in the end zone, but after we got the first score, we felt like we could do it every time. Unfortunately, those were our last two possessions of that game."
Tyrone held the lead for most of its opener against Bellefonte before the Red Raiders rallied for a 21-20 win.
"Their offense looks really explosive," Albright said. "There were times against Bellefonte the first week that I sat down thinking 'wow, how did they lose this game,' then you sit and watch the entire game and the second half wasn't as solid. We have struggled with some of that inconsistency on defense, but when we have decided we want to tackle -- that helps things."
The Golden Eagles have plenty of new faces and some old faces in new places, including receiver-turned quarterback Eli Woomer.
"We have a new quarterback that gets better every day," Franco said. "He has played really well the first two games, and he's just been pleasant to work with. He's always looking to improve and wants to know how to do things better. He also helps his receivers, because he's probably one of the best receivers in the area, so having him on the field is like having a receivers' coach on the field, and he's helping the younger guys."
Albright has been impressed with the way he's seen a couple of his players develop too.
"On the defensive side, Coltin Harbaugh has really picked up our linebackers," Albright said. "We have had some great linebackers the last couple years, and he's picked up his play. Our defensive line is playing better whether it's Bronson Myers, Jett Butler or Carter Stewart. They play so hard and have made the plays that present themselves."
Friday's game may come down to who gets to where they are trying to be first.
"We're both pretty young and both breaking in players who are playing new positions," Albright said. "We'll see who is developing better so far."
Many of the Tyrone-Central games have gone down to the wire over the last decade.
"It's a great high school atmosphere," Albright said. "Whenever we play Tyrone it's a packed house whether it's at our place or Tyrone. It's loud, and fans are really cheering for their teams. The last couple years, it's been cleaner -- supporting their own teams and less trying to aggravate the opponent."
The intensity has even been higher this week in practices.
"Rivalry games are a lot of fun," Franco said. "You don't have to worry about giving a pep talk. The kids are excited all week for the game, and both sides come and create a great atmosphere. Both sides play extra hard, and you know you are going to get everybody's best shot."
Though the Scarlet Dragons held Johnstown to just six points last week, Albright said his team will need to be even better defensively against the Golden Eagles.
"We have to play better defense," Albright said. "We dramatically improved from the first week, but we have to make that big of a step forward this week if we are going to compete and stay with Tyrone. Their offense looks very impressive. They have several key players they can go to."
The loser of Friday's game will not be eliminated, but they will be in sixth place in a six-team Class 3A field that looks very equal.
"We both got a win we needed last weekend, and this has become a really big game to see who is going to take the next step," Franco said. "I expect a typical Tyrone-Central hard-hitting, down-to-the-wire game that every fan in the area wants to go see."