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TYRONE -- Teams have tried just about everything this season to limit the touches of Tyrone receiver Mason Emigh, from bracket coverage to double teams to straight up blanketing man defense.
He's still managed to get at least one touchdown pass in every game because playmakers find ways. That much was clear last night at Gray-Veterans Memorial Field against Bald Eagle Area, when BEA defenders did just about everything right only for Emigh to torch them for 159 yards and a pair of touchdown on five receptions in the Golden Eagles' 15-6 Laurel Highlands East victory.
The win allowed the Eagles to bounce-back after falling to Central in overtime a week ago while dealing Bald Eagle its first loss of the season.
Both of Emigh's touchdowns came in the fourth quarter of a game where neither team mustered many scoring chances through the first three quarters, but a three-minute flurry by the Eagles, with Emigh at the forefront, allowed Tyrone to blow the game open.
Emigh's first touchdown was came with him split out wide facing man-to-man coverage. Quarterback Ben Walk laced a quick pass to his senior classmate on a slant, and Emigh bolted through the defense on his way to an 81-yard touchdown with 10:15 left to play.
"They made more plays than we did," BEA coach Jesse Nagle said. "It's as simple as that. We had inside leverage on (Emigh), and he beat us inside. A kid missed a tackle and we don't chase him down."
Play of the game: On the kickoff following Emigh's score, Tytus Novak lifted a ball inside the 5 where it went through the hands of Isaac Johnson and out of bounds at the 1, setting the stage for two game-changing plays. On second down after the kick, Dylan Robinson came on a blitz and dropped BEA quarterback Chase Cane in the endzone for a safety that made it 9-0. The Golden Eagles started at their own 42 after the free kick, and three plays into the drive Walk connected with Emigh again on a double reverse pass was initially sniffed out by Luke Hosband. Hosband tipped the ball, but Emigh came down with it and ran the rest of the way on a 54-yard hookup.
Player of the game: First-year starter Ben Walk had played well through three games but hadn't thrown for more than 100 yards since last season in a playoff loss to Huntingdon. Walk completed 10 of 17 passes against BEA for 186 yards and was 5-for-6 in the second half.
Unsung hero: Emigh's monster night as a receiver overshadowed sophomore running back Reid Starr, who powered his way to 97 yards on 27 carries in the absence of starter Caleb Whitby, who is injured. Starr totaled 17 carries in the second half alone and had two runs for more than 10 yards.
Most vital statistic(s): in a defensive struggle, Tyrone limited Bald Eagle to 180 yards and just 60 yards on the ground. BEA had entered the game averaging more than 200 rushing yards, alone. The Golden Eagles stopped 12 plays behind the ling of scrimmage and sacked Cane three times.
Tyrone coach Jason Jones: "A lot of teams have been bracketing (Emigh), and we really didn't get that tonight. We had a lot of one-on-one coverage on the backside, We knew we were going to get a shot. We got a couple of shots with him, and thankfully it paid off. He's one of the best athletes, on any level, I've ever been around. He can do it all on both sides of the ball.''
Jesse Nagle: ".Sometimes the best way to learn is a loss. They were one step ahead of us. They lost last week, and they were hungrier than us. The way we had been the first three weeks, very physical, punching people in the mouth, we didn't show that tonight. We got punched in the mouth, and we didn't fight back. ''
Mason Emigh: "The team played amazing, and our sophomore running back stepped up big time. He was just pounding the ball. I was surprised to see as much one-on-one, but for the coach to see it and call the right plays, it's awesome.''
Notable: Hosband got BEA's lone touchdown with 6:50 to play when he got behind the defense on a 65-yard pass play from Cane. All of the scoring came in a single stretch in the fourth quarter that lasted less than five minutes.
Records: BEA (3-1), Tyrone (3-1)
Next week: Bald Eagle Area travels to Philipsburg-Osceola. Tyrone travels to Bellwood-Antis.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bald Eagle Area 0 0 0 6 - 6
Tyrone 0 0 0 15 - 15
Fourth Quarter
T--Emigh 81 pass from Walk (Novak kick) 10:15
T - Safety (Robinson sack of Cane in end zone) 10:07
T - Emigh 54 pass from Walk (Novak kick) 8:24
BEA - Hosband 65 pass from Cane (PAT pass failed) 6:50
TEAM STATISTICS B T
First downs 5 9
Total yards 180 271
Rushes-yards 29-60 32-85
Yards passing 120 186
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 8-19-0 10-17-0
Punts-avg. 6-28 7-41.4
Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-0
Penalties-yards 7-40 6-75
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Bald Eagle Area Cane 18-31, Clark 8-23, X. Nagle 1-2, Hosband 2-4., Tyrone Starr 27-97, Walk 1-(-9), Emigh 1-9, Team 3-(-3).
PASSING--Bald Eagle Area Cane 8-18-120, 1 TD; D. Nagle 0-1-0. Tyrone Walk 10-17-186, 2 TDs.
RECEIVING--Bald Eagle Area Clark 2-29, Hosband 2-67, Frank 1-2, Cowan 1-11, I. Johnson 1-3, J. Johnson 1-8. Tyrone Emigh 5-159, Stroup 3-10, Gwinn 2-17.