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A Week 9 matchup that carries massive playoff implications will take place Friday night at Tyrone's Gray Memorial Field, when the Tyrone Golden Eagles host the Philipsburg-Osceola Mountaineers in a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference showdown.
Kickoff between the two 4-4 teams is set for 7 p.m., and the winner of the game will take a huge leg up on gaining the fourth and final playoff spot for the upcoming District 6 Class 3A tournament.
Penn Cambria, Huntingdon and Forest Hills occupy the top three spots in the classification, with Tyrone (which currently has 500 power points in the district rankings) in fourth place. Philipsburg-Osceola is right behind the Eagles with 470 points.
The two teams will play crossover games against Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference opponents in Week 10 that won't be determined until after this weekend's games are completed. The results of those games will also count in the playoff rankings, but Friday's matchup is of prime importance for both Tyrone and Philipsburg-Osceola.
"As the season goes on, each game gets more and more important,'' P-O coach Jeff Vroman said. "We stress that with the kids, but they're definitely aware of the points system, how it works, and the importance of Friday's game. It will definitely be a key factor (in determining the final playoff team in District 6 Class 3A).''
Tyrone is coming off a hard-fought 27-10 loss at top-ranked Penn Cambria last week in a game in which the Golden Eagles held a 10-7 third-quarter lead before Penn Cambria rallied. The Panthers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make the final score appear more one-sided than the game actually was.
"I thought that we needed to make a play in the fourth quarter to win the game,'' Tyrone coach John Franco said. "They did, and we didn't, and that was disappointing because I thought that we played a pretty darn good game up until that.
"We took the lead in the third quarter and it was really a back-and-forth game, then they took the lead back, and they scored two quick touchdowns there at the end to put it away,'' Franco added. "It was just disappointing to me that we didn't have one more play in us.''
Nonetheless, the game gave Tyrone reason for optimism going forward.
"We got close, but we have to learn how to finish,'' Franco said. "I think that was a great experience for us to play that tough against a team that right now looks like the best team in District 6 Class 3A.''
Tyrone junior back Caleb Whitby is a sprinter on the school's track team and possesses the type of breakaway speed that makes him a formidable open-field threat. Whitby rushed for 117 yards last week, including a 42-yard TD jaunt. On the season, he has rushed for 676 yards on 114 carries and nine touchdowns, while catching 11 passes for 179 yards and a score.
"The Whitby kid has some nice speed,'' Vroman said. "You can't let him get loose, because when he gets out there, he can break away.''
Tyrone also boasts a potent passing game, with senior quarterback Eli Woomer throwing for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns on 67 completions in 131 attempts. His top receiving targets include junior Mason Emigh (16 catches, 354 yards, two TDs), senior Brayden Parsons (13 catches, 288 yards, three touchdowns), and senior Ashton Emigh (12 catches, 202 yards).
"The key for us is that we need to contain their passing game,'' Vroman said. "You're never going to (completely) stop it, but we need to contain it, and we need to limit their big plays and not allow them to drive down the field. That's going to be crucial for our defense.''
Franco has been impressed by the P-O team this season.
"I think this is the best Philipsburg team that I've seen in maybe 10 years,'' Franco said. "They're a big team, they have good size, and they run the ball very well. It will be important for us to defend well against their running game.''
Junior Archer Baughman is a three-year starter at quarterback for P-O who brings veteran savvy and confidence to the Mountaineers' huddle. Baughman has completed 53 of 102 passes for 688 yards and three touchdowns, and has rushed for four more scores.
Senior back Colton Chapman has rushed for 703 yards on 159 carries and 14 TDs, while junior wideout Robert McClenahan is the team's receiving leader with 23 catches for 327 yards and a touchdown.
"Their quarterback has had a nice year, and (Chapman) may be their best ballplayer,'' Franco said.
The intangibles will be important in Friday's very important matchup.
"Offensively, we need to be consistent, stay in manageable down and distance, and try to win the turnover battle,'' Vroman said. "We also have to play solid on special teams. These are things that we preach every week, and that's what it always comes down to in high school football.''