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Jason Jones is in his first season as the head football coach of the Tyrone Gold Eagles, but he's already quite familiar with what is termed as Tyrone's annual "Backyard Brawl" rivalry with neighboring Bellwood-Antis.
The two schools began playing each other back in 1934, and until they both recently became members of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference, the game was scheduled every season for the first week.
That has changed, and they're now playing in the fifth week of the season. But the intensity between the two teams -- which are both 3-1 overall and in the conference -- will will be just as high when they collide Friday night at Bellwood-Antis. Kickoff is set for 7:06 p.m.
"I know that it used to historically be played on Week 1 before the schedule changed due to the conference affiliations,'' Jones said. "I always thought (the Week 1 scheduling) was pretty unique. It's a big rivalry game, and as soon as I got the Tyrone football job, I became familiar with it,'' Jones said. "I don't want to say that it's like every other game on our schedule, because I'd be lying if I said that. It's not. It's a rivalry game, the schools are five minutes apart from one another, so the kids from both schools know each other very well.''
Tyrone bounced back from a tough home-field overtime loss to unbeaten Central by topping Bald Eagle Area, 15-6 last Friday night, while Bellwood-Antis suffered its first loss of the season, 28-26, on the road to the Scarlet Dragons.
Tyrone has ridden the play of its defense and special teams to three victories in its first four games. The Golden Eagles' defense has surrendered a total of just 34 points this season, and 21 of those were scored by Central in the overtime game.
"That has been our strength to this point of the season -- defense, special teams and (getting) good field position,'' Jones said. "Defensively and special-teams wise, we've really built a solid foundation, and we're continuing to build off that.''
Playing good defense will be essential against a Bellwood team with a strong offense that includes two talented senior backs in Alex McCartney and Chase Plummer. McCartney has rushed for 529 yards on 78 carries and seven touchdowns this year, while Plummer has rushed for 148 yards on 28 carries and three scores. Both rushed for a touchdown in last week's game, when McCartney ran for 133 yards on 21 carries.
"The fact that they're both in the same senior class and that they're both in the backfield at the same time gives them quite a team dynamic,'' Jones said of the Blue Devils, who have scored an average of nearly 29 points per game this season.
Senior Bradyn Partner has been used as a quarterback and slotback by Bellwood, and is a dual offensive threat. Playing at the quarterback position last week against Central, Partner showed off his versatility by rushing for 131 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, while completing eight passes for 16 yards, including a TD throw to senior tight end Ethan Shawley.
Partner has rushed for 286 yards on 31 carries and a touchdown this season, and he has seven pass receptions for 138 yards and two TDs. Shawley and Plummer both also have seven catches apiece for Bellwood Junior quarterback Brendan McNelis, who sat out last week's game with an injury, has completed 24 of 42 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season. B-A coach NIck Lovrich said that McNelis will be unavailable again for Friday's game.
"We know that they have playmakers, and they have a lot of good athletes,'' Jones said. "They have a very nice team, a very solid team, and they're very well-coached. They're going to be a tough matchup for us for sure.''
Tyrone has a decent offense as well, led by senior quarterback Ben Walk, who has completed 30 of 66 passes for 416 yards and six touchdowns this year. His favorite receiver, senior wideout Mason Emigh, has made a team-leading 15 receptions for 314 yards and five touchdowns, while senior back Caleb Whitby has rushed for 208 yards on 47 carries.
"Those three guys are really good,'' Lovrich said. "Ben Walk throws the ball really well, and reminds me of his (older) brother (Ashton, a Tyrone graduate). He has a cannon of an arm, and he can make plays with his arm and can escape (the rush with his legs). Whitby is a great athlete, and Emigh is the same way,'' said Lovrich, who is also the B-A track and field coach. "I know both of them from track competition.''
Bellwood battled back from a 21-0 deficit last week but came up just short in its 28-26 loss to Central.
"It was a really tough game,'' Lovrich said. "We had a couple mistakes, but I was really proud of the way that the kids kept their heads in the game and battled right there to the end.''
Both Bellwood and Tyrone will undoubtedly put forth similarly spirited efforts Friday night.
"Everybody is going to be really fired up, so we are going to have to control our emotions because sometimes when you get in a big game like this, your emotions kind of get the best of you and then you make mistakes,'' Lovrich said. "So we have to make sure that we can control our emotions and we have to make sure that we do the little things right. With all of the excitement, and both teams being 3-1, this is probably going to be one of the marquee matchups in the area this weekend.''
Tyrone at Bellwood-Antis
Where: Bellwood-Antis High School's John R. Hayes Field at Memorial Stadium.
When: Tonight, 7:06 p.m.
Records: Both teams are 3-1 overall and in the LHAC
Coaches: Jason Jones is 3-1 in his first season at Tyrone. Nick Lovrich is 64-29 in nine seasons at B-A.
Last season: B-A won, 26-7 at Tyrone.
Last week: Tyrone defeated BEA, 15-6 at home; B-A lost 28-26 at Central.
All-time series: Tyrone leads 54-32-1